Missouri declares emergency as flash floods rescue over 200 people
A state of emergency was declared in Missouri after unprecedented rainfall caused flash flooding, prompting helicopter rescues of more than 200 children and adults.
More than 200 children and camp counselors were airlifted from a flood-stricken camp in southeastern Missouri on Friday, officials said. The rescues were part of a larger effort that saved hundreds of residents after six to twelve inches of rain fell in a single day, a rate the National Weather Service described as a "once-in-a-thousand-years" event.
State Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and activated the Missouri National Guard, which deployed eight Black Hawk helicopters for the evacuations.
"Over the past 24 hours, intense storms have created dangerous flash flooding across several regions of Missouri, resulting in multiple swift-water rescues," Kehoe said in a statement.
Sheriff Chuck Helton of Iron County reported that about 100 people were rescued in his county and in neighboring Reynolds County after distress calls began arriving around 3 a.m. Flash-flood warnings remain in effect through Saturday morning, and a flood watch continues for parts of Missouri and Illinois.