Severe Storms Cause Flooding, Road Closures in Southeast Kansas
Severe Storms Cause Flooding, Road Closures in Southeast Kansas
Severe weather in Southeast Kansas leads to widespread flooding and numerous road closures. Stay updated on the impact.
Communities across four states in the Midwest are in clean-up mode after a deluge of rain hit the region over the weekend, causing widespread flooding. Among the affected areas is Fort Scott, Kansas, where businesses and residents work to clear out the remnants of the floodwaters and return to normalcy.
Fort Scott Businesses Clean Up After Weekend Floods
Pete’s Convenience Store, located at the intersection of Highways 69 and 54 in the northern part of Fort Scott, experienced significant flooding. Store manager Chelsie Deal reported that while the store had been affected by floodwaters in the past, this was the first time the water had entered the building, reaching knee-high levels at one point. Deal and her crew are working to clean up the store, to reopen on Wednesday and have it fully stocked by Thursday.
Fort Scott city manager Brad Matkin stated that the city was getting closer to business as usual, with only a few rough spots remaining. Crews were working to clean debris from drains and repair a couple of roads that had been damaged by the flooding. Matkin expected the roads to be open by the end or the middle of the following week.
While the recent flooding was severe, it did not surpass the record-breaking flood of 1986 in Fort Scott. On October 3, 1986, the Marmaton River crested at 52.5 feet, breaking the previous record set in 1915, after nearly 20 inches of rain fell over three days. The damage from the 1986 flood was more extensive, with many businesses along Highway 69 being lost, including a veterinary clinic and a lumber yard.
Parsons Authorities Discuss Tornado Sirens and Shelters
In Parsons, Kansas, authorities discussed tornado sirens, shelters, and the importance of being prepared following last weekend’s tornado warnings. Lt. Jason Ludwig of the Parsons Police Department reported that the city had experienced a series of near misses with severe weather on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The National Weather Service had issued tornado warnings for parts of Labette County but not for the entire city of Parsons.
Parsons’ tornado sirens are activated when radar indicates rotation, and cloud formations suggest a tornado, or when a trained weather spotter or citizen has sighted a tornado. Ludwig emphasized the importance of monitoring TV, radio, and weather apps for updates.
The City Hall storm shelter in Parsons, managed by Events and Media Director Matt Hoisington, welcomed over 50 individuals during the severe weather event. Parsons School District USD 503 also opened city school locations using volunteer staffers, although Lincoln School was not opened due to a lack of a volunteer to manage it.
Chanute Experiences Significant Flooding
The city of Chanute, Kansas, experienced significant flooding due to consecutive days of storms, with approximately 8 inches of rainfall recorded over three days. Numerous roads were closed off, and the Neosho River near Chanute measured at 31.13 feet, with an expected crest of 32 feet.
Chanute Fire Captain Dale Lowry advised residents to take extra precautions when traveling and to adhere to the saying “turn around, don’t drown” in light of the high water levels and expected additional rainfall. The Chanute Fire Department water rescue team was called out once during the flooding, but the vehicle’s occupants had already escaped by the time they arrived.