Flash floods claim at least 5 lives in Missouri, U.S.
At least five people were reported dead after a storm system brought heavy torrential rains to Missouri starting on Monday, November 4, 2024. The system dropped around 203 mm (8 inches) of rain over the region between Monday and Tuesday, November 5, leading to widespread floods and rescues.
Hanley road near Deer Creek completely submerged after floods struck St. Louis. Image credit: Spectrum News St. Louis
Heavy torrential rains struck Missouri on Monday, leading to severe flash floods that claimed at least five lives in the region.
The system dropped around 203 mm (8 inches) of rain over the region between Monday and Tuesday, leading to widespread floods and rescues. According to Lemay Fire Protection District spokesperson Jason Brice, fire crews rescued 10 people from flooded areas.
The flooding turned roads into rivers submerging entire streets and inundation homes with one couple saying that floodwaters reached a height of roughly 1.5 m (5 feet) in their garage.
Missouri state troopers recovered a 66-year-old man’s body after his car was swept off a bridge in Ironton on Monday.
Two poll workers were reported dead in Wright County after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters at around 04:30 local time (LT) on Tuesday, November 5.
Two other deaths were reported in St. Louis County. One woman was found dead in Gravois Creek near Interstate 55; her body was recovered by firefighters from an SUV that was submerged under floodwaters on the highway. Another man was also found dead in the same area, but the cause of death remains uncertain as police are still investigating how the body got there.
Three people whose cars were swept away by floodwaters in Beaver Creek had to swim to safety, according to the State Patrol.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, at around 06:53 LT, Twin River Road near the highway had become impassable, and voters were advised to take a different route to reach the polling booths.
The torrential rains were triggered by the same storm system that recently spawned several tornadoes across Oklahoma, injuring at least 11 people in the Oklahoma City.
Keli Cain, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, stated that assessments of the damage were underway.
References:
1 Missouri flash flooding kills 5, including 2 poll workers – CBS – November 5, 2024
2 Poll workers among 3 killed in Election Day flooding in Missouri – Fox Weather – November 5, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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