Southern Missouri woke up to a deluge on Friday so intense that forecasters say it qualifies as a once-in-a-millennium rain event. More than a foot of rain fell in under 24 hours, sending the Black River to a record 28.7 feet and triggering flash-flood emergencies for parts of Reynolds and Iron counties, where some highways and bridges were rendered impassable, reports CNN. "Everything's saturated down here," says Iron County Sheriff Chuck Helton, per the New York Times. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency as crews carried out about 90 water rescues involving residents, campers, and drivers, per CNN.
The most dramatic operations played out around Lesterville, where more than 200 children and staff members at Camp Taum Sauk were airlifted by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters after roads washed out, per the AP. Nearby, a building collapse at Bearcat Getaway Campground initially left up to 17 people unaccounted for, per CNN; all were later rescued or found safe, authorities said.
Campers stranded on rooftops at Black River Lodge and a mobile home were also rescued, some by boat, officials say. No serious injuries have been reported in the hardest-hit counties, though a woman in neighboring Crawford County is still missing after floodwaters surged into her home. Forecasters warn that the flooding threat will extend through the weekend across a broad swath of the central US.
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