On Friday, hundreds, including many young campers, were rescued in Missouri due to severe flash flooding that turned rivers into powerful torrents.
A series of thunderstorms unleashed between 6 to 12 inches of rain in southeastern Missouri, described by officials as a rare, once-in-a-millennium rainfall event.
The historic rain prompted Governor Mike Kehoe to declare a state of emergency, initiating the state’s largest search and rescue operation.
Floodwaters overwhelmed the Black River and adjacent streams, putting countless residents and vacationers at risk.
Governor Kehoe reported that over 200 water rescues took place throughout the affected area.
Many victims were stranded in various places—floodwaters, trees, rooftops, and inside vehicles.
A National Guard helicopter swiftly rescued approximately 200 campers from Camp Taum Staug in Reynolds County, an area heavily impacted by the flooding, according to Sergeant Eddie Young of the State Highway Patrol.
He noted that half of those evacuated from the youth camp, located about 160 miles south of St. Louis, were children, with the remainder being camp staff and counselors.
In another incident in Reynolds County, a building at Bearcat Gateway Campground collapsed as campers sought refuge on its roof from rising waters, resulting in about 20 people being swept away, Young mentioned.
Additionally, three people were rescued from trees along the Black River in Reynolds County.
Reportedly, between 20 to 30 individuals were initially missing in severely affected Reynolds County, including some campers from the Bearcat Gateway Campground, but by Friday evening, all had either been rescued or accounted for.
Thankfully, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported so far.
However, in Crawford County, located 114 miles southwest of St. Louis, a woman is still missing after her home was washed away by the flood.
Governor Kehoe commended Missouri’s first responders for their bravery, professionalism, and compassion in rescuing hundreds from the dangerous situation.
“As recovery efforts proceed and more rain is on the horizon, we urge residents in flood-prone or low-lying areas to stay alert about the weather, look for multiple weather alerts, and be ready to take protective measures,” he added.
Currently, over 21 million people across eight states—including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—are under flood watches, as stated by the National Weather Service.
More rain was anticipated in affected regions Friday night, and the weather service cautioned that additional heavy rainfall into Saturday morning in southeastern Missouri could lead to significant flooding issues.
