More than 200 children and staff members had to be rescued by military helicopters after relentless rain and dangerous flooding cut off a Missouri summer camp, as emergency crews carried out dramatic rescues across the region.
The flooding struck parts of southeastern Missouri on Friday, leaving roads underwater, buildings damaged and hundreds of people in need of help as even more rain threatened the area.
At Camp Taum Sauk in the small community of Lesterville, more than 200 children and staff members became stranded after nearby roads were made impassable.
With no safe way out by land, the Army National Guard sent Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate the campers and staff members, according to Sgt. Eddie Young of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
They were flown to a nearby elementary school, where they were reunited with their families.
“We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe,” Camp Taum Sauk later wrote on Instagram.
Another frightening emergency unfolded at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River, about 85 miles south of St. Louis.
Approximately 20 people climbed onto a building to escape the rapidly rising water, but the structure later collapsed beneath them.
“Between the weight and the constant waters underneath it, it just gave away on them,” Young said.
Emergency crews were able to rescue the people from the collapsed structure.
Three other people became trapped in trees along the Black River in Reynolds County and were rescued Friday evening.
No major injuries or deaths had been reported, but authorities were still searching for a woman who went missing in Crawford County after floodwaters swept a home from its foundation. Crawford County is about 71 miles southwest of St. Louis.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings after repeated thunderstorms dumped between 6 and 12 inches of rain across parts of the region.
Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in St. Louis, warned that the affected counties contain many campgrounds, river recreation areas and popular float-trip destinations.
“It’s a very, very popular place for recreation,” Beitscher said. “So there are campgrounds there. There are float trip locations there. A lot of vulnerable populations that would be susceptible to flash flooding.”
Forecasters warned that additional heavy rain overnight into Saturday morning could bring “considerable flood impacts.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and activated one of the state’s search-and-rescue teams.
By late Friday, Kehoe said hundreds of people had already been rescued from floodwaters, trees, rooftops and stranded vehicles.
Several major roads remained impassable because of flooding and storm damage.
Kehoe also warned that the Black River was continuing to rise and was expected to crest at more than 28 feet near Annapolis in southeastern Missouri. That level would set a new record for the waterway.
“As recovery efforts continue and additional rain is expected, I urge everyone in flood-prone and low-lying areas to stay weather-aware, have multiple ways of receiving alerts, and be ready to take protective action,” Kehoe said in a statement.
The dangerous conditions also put rescuers at risk. In Reynolds County, two rescue boats capsized in the floodwaters, according to the sheriff’s office.
Other emergency personnel were able to safely recover the responders.
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