National Guard helicopters evacuate 202 campers from Missouri flood zone

Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters were deployed on Friday to airlift 202 campers and staff from Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County, Missouri, after floodwaters rose along the Black River. The evacuation moved the group to St. Louis, where they were reunited with their families, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Camp officials thanked the National Guard, local emergency responders and the Arcadia community for their assistance. The coed camp, operating near Lesterville since 1946, had been threatened by a storm system that dropped six to twelve inches of rain across central and southern Missouri.

Governor Mike Kehoe, who issued a state of emergency, said, "> Missouri’s first responders once again answered the call with extraordinary bravery, professionalism, and compassion." The governor added that local agencies had conducted more than 350 swift-water rescues in the region.

Nearby Bearcat Getaway campground confirmed that all its campers and staff were safe after closing its facilities for the weekend. State officials warned that additional rain of two to four inches was possible through the weekend, urging continued vigilance.