Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to widespread flash flooding that prompted dozens of water rescues across the state, including the airlift of over 200 campers by National Guard helicopters. More than 90 water rescues were conducted overall, involving residents, campers, and motorists affected by the rapidly rising floodwaters.
In Reynolds County, initial reports from the Sheriff’s Office indicated that between 10 to 17 individuals, who had sought shelter on the roof of a campground building, may have entered the water when the structure collapsed. The Missouri State Highway Patrol later confirmed that these campers were safe and had been rescued. Additionally, five campers previously reported missing from Bearcat Getaway Campground were located and accounted for.
Neighboring Iron County saw significant rescue efforts, with approximately 168 teens and 60 adults from the Taum Sauk campsite airlifted out of the flooded area by National Guard helicopters. This operation began around 2:30 a.m. Friday after emergency calls reported numerous campers trapped by rising water. Kate Moore, public information officer for Missouri Region C Incident Support Team, stated that there were no reports of deaths or missing people from this group, though many remain stranded due to washed-away roads and extensive damage to trees and buildings.
However, in nearby Crawford County, one person remains missing following the flooding. Search efforts involving the sheriff’s office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and other agencies were suspended overnight and are set to resume Saturday morning.
Governor Kehoe’s declaration activated the State Emergency Operations Plan, enabling agencies to quickly coordinate resources and support local response efforts. In a statement on Friday, he noted, “Over the past 24 hours, intense storms have created dangerous flash flooding across several regions of Missouri, resulting in multiple swift-water rescues.” He also warned that the threat is not over, with additional heavy rain expected through the weekend, urging Missourians near rivers and streams to move to higher ground and monitor local forecasts.
Parts of Iron and Reynolds counties have experienced 7 to 12 inches of rain, with some areas like Iron County seeing more than 12 inches. The Black River at Lesterville rose 8 feet in just one hour, with its waters advancing toward Annapolis, where river levels also quickly escalated. A flash flood emergency has been declared for several locations, including recreational areas like Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, and towns such as Viburnum, Annapolis, Glover, Oates, Bixby, Lesterville, Black, Hogan, Chloride, and Sabula.
Forecasters anticipate additional thunderstorms with heavy rain to continue through Friday evening, with further rounds of heavy rain and storms expected from the central Plains east to the Ohio Valley and interior parts of the Northeast through the weekend. A level 3 of 4 (moderate risk) for excessive rainfall was in effect for southeastern Missouri on Friday, alongside a level 2 of 4 (slight risk) for parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Central Appalachians. A Flood Watch is currently active for over 21 million Americans, stretching from Pennsylvania to Tennessee and west to Missouri.
Officials have issued stern warnings against driving through floodwaters, even if they appear shallow, as just 6 inches of water can sweep a person off their feet, and one foot can move most cars. The governor’s office emphasized, “More than half of flood deaths in Missouri are victims in vehicles. Nighttime severe weather is particularly dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. If you find yourself stranded by floodwaters, immediately call for help and seek higher ground.”
-ABC News’ Alexandra Fine and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.