The declaration from Missouri comes in the wake of the Black River’s churning waters, which have made for some hard-nosed work like the helicopter airlifts at a country camp and the severing of roads in the Ozarks. But this is not a local problem; flood watches are up in eight states, putting over 21 million in the crosshairs of the crisis.
A dangerous flash-flood setup grips the Ozarks
Thunderstorms made a stand over the Ozark Mountains and let go of 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300 mm) of water through the night and into Friday. It was a lot of rain for an area where you would expect to be out camping or on the river, and the rivers rose in a hurry.
You can’t get to some of the riverfront sites now that a number of roads have been taken out, officials say. Once the water goes down, search teams will be back in the field. It is a case of moving from a fast reaction to methodically going over the more remote campgrounds.
There is more to come Friday night in the wettest parts of the region, and with the ground already sopping and banks in poor shape, the threat of another round of flash flooding is there.
Black Hawk airlifts at Camp Taum Sauk
When the roads at Camp Taum Sauk in Lesterville went under, the people there were left with no way out. Sgt. Eddie Young of the Missouri State Highway Patrol put it at 200 folks, roughly half of them young ones, who were put on higher ground by National Guard men in Black Hawks on Friday.
Gov. Mike Kehoe put the number at 202 – campers and staff alike – who were moved by eight of the choppers. For their part, the camp’s leadership is grateful and has seen families come together at a school down the road after they put up with the downpour.
Not far from there, the work was just as tough. Some 20 at the Bearcat Getaway Campground had to be pulled from a building once the water started to do its damage to the foundation.
Down in Reynolds County, a boat crew hauled three from the trees beside the Black River. Two of the rescue boats did flip in the rough water, but the rest of the team was found further on by their colleagues.
Lives saved, one person still missing
As of late Friday, there have been no deaths to report. The Sheriff in Reynolds County has 90+ to his credit from the day, having plucked them from homes and cars in the path of the flood.
Some 20 to 30 in the county who were unaccounted for have since been found or brought in, even a few who were on a roof when a structure gave way. Over in Crawford, however, one is still out there. She has been put a name to by authorities: Faith Gregory.
One local put it in perspective, saying they and their dog and cat were hauled off the roof of the home. It is a case in point for how quickly a surge can leave both people and animals with nowhere to go.
Statewide mobilisation and community support
With state search and rescue now in play, Governor Mike Kehoe has given credit to the men and women who have made hundreds of extrications from treetops, vehicles and roofs. His message to anyone in a low-lying or flood zone is to be on top of the weather and be in a position to act if necessary.
Over in Reynolds County, the American Red Cross has set up at First Baptist Church, 2263 Main St in Centerville. There is water, food and a place to put down for the night, though one does not have to stay to get some help.
The scope of the flooding is hard to miss. From Crawford to Wayne, several counties are in the mix, and some of the bigger highways are out of commission where the water has done its damage.
Regional threat extends far beyond Missouri
If you look at the map from the National Weather Service, there are flood watches in effect in eight states for over 21 million. The line of caution runs from here, east to the south of Illinois and Indiana, on into Kentucky and Tennessee, and as far north as West Virginia, Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania.
In the eastern Ozarks, it is no secret that the terrain draws in a lot of recreation. That makes for more of a target when flash floods come. You will find day trippers and those on float trips in the thick of it, right by the water where the river is most likely to make a move.
Missouri’s Emergency Management Agency has a word of warning: while the heaviest of the storms are heading out of the state to the south, there is still potential for more, particularly in spots that have seen 6 to 12 inches of rain.
What comes next
The Black River is not done rising; near Annapolis it could top 28 feet for a record. Once the current eases and the debris is gone, teams will go back to the places that are not easy to get to.
For those following the situation, here is what officials are pointing to:
– More thunderstorms are in the cards for the wet ground
– The eight-state flood watch is to be taken seriously
– Stay off any road or crossing that is under water
– Have a few ways to be in the loop on weather
Rescue work has taken on a two-pronged approach. Some are still in the field for urgent cases, while others are making sure the campgrounds are empty and the missing are accounted for.
It is a scenario we see in the central US: a storm lingers, the cells repeat and the rivers don’t take days to react. In the Ozarks, being ready is part of the package.
This past Friday was a testament to having the right tools in the field. Between the Black Hawks and the boat crews, a lot of trouble was averted as the water was redefining the lay of the land.
But the rest of the region is still on notice. With the ground already full of water, the advice is straightforward: check in on the news, get out of the way before the water gets high and do not try to put a car through it.
