Record rainfall caused severe flash flooding in parts of Missouri on 26 July 2022. The Mayor of St Louis has declared a state of emergency, while emergency services have rescued dozens of people from trapped vehicles and flooded homes. St Louis Fire Department reported at least one fatality.
National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis reported a record 7.02 inches (178 mm) of rain in 5 hours early on 26 July 2022, surpassing the old record of 6.85″ (174 mm) recorded in August 1915.
“Historic rainfall event causing widespread flash flooding this morning,” NWS St Louis said, adding that “rainfall totals varied immensely across the area. While some locations were shattering records, others saw only a trace of rain.”
The city of St Peters in St. Charles County recorded 12.86 inches (326.6 mm) in 24 hours to 26 July 2022. St Louis saw 7.79 inches (198 mm), and Hannibal and Auxvasse both recorded 6.10 inches (155 mm) during the same period.
City of St. Louis Mayor, Tishaura O. Jones, declared a state of emergency following the historic rainfall and flash flooding across the city. The disaster declaration will enable the State of Missouri, if granted, to request federal support to bring relief to residents and small businesses.
“Communities throughout our region were devastated by last night’s record rainfall and flooding,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “My heart goes out to all those families who were impacted, and I remain in consistent communication with our partners at the county, state, and federal governments. This declaration of emergency will help us get the resources we need to begin our city’s recovery.”
St. Louis City and County, with support from the Red Cross, set up a regional evacuation shelter at the Richmond Heights to house those displaced by the floods.
One person died after a vehicle was swept away by flood waters in the Forest Park area of St Louis. Emergency services reported dozens of people were rescued from vehicles trapped in flooding across affected areas. Sections of interstates 70, 64, 55 and 44 were all closed.
Social Media
#Rescue operations. #YourFireDepartment #STLCity #STL #stlwx
📸: @BILLGREENBLATT pic.twitter.com/jxtoQdG52w— St. Louis Fire Dept (@STLFireDept) July 27, 2022
Members of @STLFireDept Truck 24 wading through flood waters cautiously to #rescue a motorist stranded on the rooftop of a vehicle. #STLCity #STL #stlwx pic.twitter.com/gC7Lnyl358
— Garon Patrick Mosby (@GaronMosby) July 26, 2022
What a difference 8 hours makes.
Same spot, same day, flash flood indeed.
UPDATES: Record rain in St. Louis area brings flooding, highway closures, one death https://t.co/QM0lwM3gwX via @stltoday pic.twitter.com/yrLQ0fXmXj— David Carson (@PDPJ) July 26, 2022
Following historic levels of rainfall and flooding, I signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in our city. This will allow Missouri – if granted – to access federal funds for @STLCityGov relief efforts, repairs, & recovery work.
My full statement below 👇🏾 #stlwx pic.twitter.com/dCJlBEkZLe
— Mayor Tishaura O. Jones (@saintlouismayor) July 27, 2022
Your @WESTCOUNTYFIRE Firefighters are out on multiple rescues today. Remember turn around don’t drown #turnarounddontdrown pic.twitter.com/SKMmzKo3Xr
— West County Shop (@WCFirefighters) July 26, 2022
***Record Daily Rainfall at St. Louis***
St. Louis has recorded 7.02″ of rainfall in the last five hours (since midnight), surpassing the old record of 6.85″ on August 20th 1915. Historic rainfall event causing widespread flash flooding this morning. #stlwx #mowx— NWS St. Louis (@NWSStLouis) July 26, 2022
Rainfall totals varied immensely across the area. While some locations were shattering records, others saw only a trace of rain. #stlwx #mowx #ilwx pic.twitter.com/hAKnEZVpIB
— NWS St. Louis (@NWSStLouis) July 26, 2022
