Extreme Rainfall and Flash Flooding - August 3rd - 10th, 2013

Event Summary

Extreme heavy rainfall occurred on an every night basis in differing locations across the Missouri Ozarks and southeast Kansas from August 3rd through August 10th, 2013.  Rainfall rates of around two inches per hour occurred with these storms each night and trained across the same locations for several hours.  High 24 hour precipitation totals were the result with some locations receiving between 8 to 10 inches of rain in a short window of time.  This extreme amount of rainfall led to dangerous flash flooding, many water rescues, hundreds of flooded roadways and 3 deaths.  

There was widespread 5 to 6 inches of rainfall across the Missouri Ozarks and southeast Kansas for the week with a large area of greater than 10 inches in parts of central and south central Missouri.  There was also a decent area of greater than 15 inches from the southern half of Pulaski county in to Wright county.

River Hydrographs

The following river hydrographs depict the stages of several area rivers during the flood event.









 

Roubidoux River near Waynesville

Event Impacts

Waynesville / Pulaski County - August 6
 
5 to 8 inches of rain fell over the Texas and Pulaski county areas during the early morning hours of Tuesday August 6 primarily from  Richland to Ft. Leanord Wood to Licking.

• Fatalities and a few injuries in the Mitchell creek area
• 60-80 homes inundated
• 100+ people in temporary shelter
• Creeks/streams near record levels
• Roubidoux record crest of 21 ft at Waynesville
• 35 homes to be evacuated far western Maries county along Gasconade River
• Residents evacuated homes in Jerome

Rainfall Tuesday Morning August 6th	Roubidoux River Hydrograph
Topographic Map of Roubidoux River Valley	Topographic Map of Waynesville

Newburg and Phelps / Maries / Miller Counties - August 7

5 to 8 inches of rainfall fell during the early morning  hours of August 7 from Miller County southeast into Phelps County resulting in serious flash flooding particulary in the Newburg area of Phelps County along with eastern Miller and western Maries Counties.  Signifcant flash flooding impacted Newburg with at least 15 homes evacuated. Many roads were flooded or washed out

• Evacuations in Newburg (Phelps County) - at least 15 homes evacuated and several buildings flooded.
• Water rescues performed in eastern Miller and western Maries as well as Newburg.
• All roads into Newburg are closed
• Some homes flooded in Tusbumbia and Brumley (Miller).
• I-44 closed between MMs 172 and 186, both directions - basically between Jerome and Rolla.  Gasconade River completely covering the interstate.  
• Jerome reached record stage - 31.8 ft.  Previous record crest 31.34 ft on 12/05/1982
  Highway 63 that crossed over the Gasconade north/downstream from Jerome gage is closed.
• Maramec Spring Park in eastern Phelps evacuated campgrounds shortly after 4 am. 
  Floodwaters from the Gasconade River have caused a closure of three major roadways in Miller County.

Hollister / Taney County - August 8

Extreme rainfall amounts and rates impacted far southern Missouri along the Araknas border from McDonald County into Taney County resulting in serious flash flooding. Rainfall totals ranged from 5 to 9 inches.  Hollister, MO (just south of Branson) experienced significant flooding as a large flood wave came down Turkey creek which cuts through Hollister.

• Holland mobile home park has had 15 structures flooded (1-2 possibly washed downstream).
• An RV park has been completely evacuated.
• Evacuations underway at another mobile home park (~15 homes) near Hidden Valley and Old Mill Rd.
• Several businesses flooded in downtown Hollister.
• Hollister area - 50 residential evacuations. 50-75 rescues from homes/cars. 2 mobile homes and 1 car washed away.
• No injuries, none missing from Hollister.  Red Cross set up at New Beginnings Church.
• 6.62" of rain measures at KBBG.  Branson COOP (colocated w/ Branson airport) measured 8" as of 7 AM.

 Roaring River - Barry County / Blue Eye - Stone County / McDonald County - August 8

Extreme rainfall amounts and rates impacted far southern Missouri along the Araknas border from McDonald County into Taney County resulting in serious flash flooding. Rainfall totals ranged from 6 to 9 inches.

• In the community of Blue Eye (far southeastern Stone County), a retreat area with numerous cabins were flooded. Everyone was evacuated by bus.  
• Town of Blue Eye in Stone county evacuated
• Camp sites flooded in Roaring River State park. A deputy was dispatched to warn these campsites several hours in advance. Roaring River State Park evacuated in advance of the flooding.  All are accounted for.
• A camp site in Noel, Mo (McDonald County) has flooded with campers currently stranded. A boat has been dispatched to rescue these individuals. At this time no known injuries or fatalities. 15 campers in Noel, MO (McDonald County) were rescued successfully.  Unfortunately, the sheriff's rescue boat's motor died and is now downstream and tied to a tree, MSHP boat is enroute to rescue.  This rescue is currently underway.
• Vehicle washed off of Highway 90 near Jane in McDonald county that resulted in 1 fatality

Topographic Map of Roaring River State Park	Topographic Map of Blue Eye Area

Big Sugar Creek Hydrograph                                                   Little Sugar Creek Hydrograph