USA – Kansas City Flash Floods Leave 1 Dead, Dozens Rescued

by in News, USA

Flash flooding hit parts of the the Kansas City metro area between 21 and 22 August. This is the second time in two weeks the city has been under water.

National Weather Service (NWS) Kansas City said that the flooding was a result of “multiple rounds of heavy rain…with some of the highest totals observed over the southwestern portions of the Kansas City metro area and other locations south of Kansas City.”

Several areas recorded between 4 and 6 inches (100 to 150 mm). NWS said some isolated areas recorded 8″ to 9″ (200 to 228 mm). Local observers recorded 9.20 inches (233.68 mm) in the Brookside area in the south of Kansas City.

Numerous roads and some schools closed due to widespread flooding. City officials say that emergency teams responded to 160 water rescues. Local media reports that one person was killed after their vehicle was swept away by flood water.

NWS said that record crests were made on Indian Creek. At Overland Park, the creek reached 18.39 feet early 22 August, beating the previous high of 17.78 ft set in 1984. At State Line Road, Indian Creek reached 28.22 feet also early on 22 August, beating the previous high of 25.50 feet set in 2010. The creek has since returned to normal levels at both locations.

Indian Creek at Overland, August 2017. Image: NWS
Indian Creek at State Line, August 2017. Image: NWS

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