Heavy rains cause massive flooding in Midwest
Pastor Dale Morgan
Heavy rains cause massive flooding in Midwest*
Thousands forced from homes as rivers rise.
BY HEATHER MOYER |TOPEKA, Kan. | May 8, 2007
Heavy rains have forced the Kansas River near Topeka out of its banks
and into communities.
Massive Flooding brought on by heavy rains has forced thousands of
people in the Midwest from their homes as rivers and streams approached
levels that some meteorologists said have not been seen since the major
Midwestern floods of 1993.
More than 500 residents in a Topeka, Kan., neighborhood had to be rescue
by boats Monday as a local creek rose quickly after more than 6 inches
of rain fell in 24 hours. The evacuation occurred along the Shunganunga
Creek in the city and Shawnee County. Burlingame, south of Topeka, also
reported water rescues.
Rain totaling 6 to 9 inches fell in a short time across the region, all
part of the same storm system that dropped more than 150 tornadoes
across the Plains last weekend, including one that leveled the town of
Greensburg, Kan.
Emergency officials in Ellinwood in central Kansas said at least 70
homes were flooded over the weekend. That area received more than 13
inches of rain from Friday through early Monday. Flooding has been
reported in Saline, Stafford, Barton, Rice, Harper, Osage, Lincoln,
Riley, Barton, Leavenworth, Washington and Doniphan counties. Many of
the areas have declared local emergencies.
In Missouri, a state of emergency was in effect with 12 counties
reporting flood damage. The Missouri River and many smaller rivers and
creeks have left their banks. The Missouri Emergency Management Agency
said extensive flooding and evacuations occurred in the communities of
Amazonia, Nodaway and Rosendale in Andrew County.
The agency said the Atchison County communities of Tarkio and Fairfax
suffered flood damage and that residents in St. Joseph and Lewis and
Clark Village in Buchanan County were evacuated. Extensive flooding was
also reported in the city of Mosby along the Fishing River in Clay
County. The Grand River prompted evacuations in Pattonsburg and Gallatin
in Daviess County.
At least 20 homes in the DeKalb County town of Cameron were flooded over
the weekend. Holt County officials declared a state of emergency after
residents were evacuated in Craig due to levee breaches.
Elsewhere in Missouri, officials reported flash flooding and at least 36
affected homes in Buckner and Silbey in Jackson County. Numerous
businesses were reported under water in Riverside in Platte County.
Residents were evacuated in Parkville.
Roads and highways across the state were closed due to high water,
including parts of Interstate 29 and Highways 71 and 136. Officials
urged motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Sand-bagging efforts continued in other communities where rivers had not
yet crested.
"Runoff from the excessive rainfall will continue through the week, with
high flood crests possible on several rivers across northern Missouri,"
the National Weather Service said.
"For those living along or near area rivers, this is an extremely
dangerous situation and folks should follow evacuation orders issued by
local emergency management and law enforcement," it said. "More lives
are lost due to flash flooding than any other weather phenomenon."
In Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver declared an emergency for Harrison,
Pattawattamie, Montgomery, Decatur and Fremont counties due to flooding.
More than 1,500 residents in Red Oak and Coburg were advised to evacuate
early Monday due to the rising East Nishnabotna River. Officials there
expected the situation to get better Tuesday as the weather improves.
Flooding was also reported in Pisgah along the Boyer River. Water
remained high in Harrison County's Willow Park and Missouri Valley and
an emergency management official there said many homes were affected.
Residents in Nebraska relaxed a bit as river levels started to recede.
Jim Bunstock of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said damage
assessments were being conducted.
"It affected primarily the southeastern corner of the state," Bunstock
said. "The town of Beatrice in Gage County had a fair amount of
flooding. We also had some in Falls City in Richardson County and in
Nemaha County. Those are all along rivers and we expect it there."
Bunstock said the water appeared to be receding and that the rivers had
crested.
The storm system remains stalled over much of the region. Flood warnings
and watches remained posted for much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Nebraska, Missouri as well as parts of North and South Dakota.