Tuesday, August 16, 2016

South Bend Swamped by Record Rains; Missouri Flooding Prompts Evacuations

Sean Breslin
Published: August 16,2016

Widespread flooding was reported in South Bend, Indiana, Tuesday morning after the city reported its highest rainfall total for a single calendar day since records began.
Officially, 7.69 inches of rain fell at South Bend International Airport on Monday, breaking the previous record, set on Sept. 13, 2008, by more than an inch. In one day, the city received more than twice its average rainfall for the entire month of August, which is 3.76 inches, according to weather.com meteorologist Jon Erdman.
But even after the daily record was clinched, the rain continued to fall Tuesday morning. Flood warnings were issued, and the south side of the city saw the worst of the flooding. In one area where many homes were flooded, two houses collapsed after the water invaded, according to the South Bend Tribune.
(MORE: The Latest on the Deadly Louisiana Floods)
City officials said they had to perform several water rescues as the deluge continued into the early-morning hours Tuesday, and on multiple roads, drivers were forced to abandon their cars when they became stranded in floodwaters, the South Bend Tribune also said. No flood-related injuries have been reported.
"The rains were incredible," resident Sara Brady told WBND-TV. "It was knee deep in our yard. We had a complete circle of rain around our entire house, coming in our basement, coming in our family room level – unbelievable amounts of rain."
According to WDNU-TV's Shaun Gallagher, one of the station's photographers was swept away by the flood Monday night while driving in a vehicle owned by the network. He was apparently unharmed in the ordeal.
Flooding also forced Potawatomi Zoo to close Tuesday after exhibits, buildings and offices were flooded overnight, according to a separate South Bend Tribune report. Some animals had to be transported to other areas of the zoo overnight, but none of the creatures were harmed by the flooding, the report added.

Evacuations, Power Outages in Missouri

Thousands lost power in the St. Louis area and more than 30 homes had to be evacuated south of the city due to flooding that swamped roads and even left a woman trapped as she went into labor.
The floods were triggered by heavy downpours Sunday night and Monday morning that followed a weekend of intense rainfall in St. Louis and southeastern and south-central Missouri.
Roads in St. Louis County were flooded, and more than 13,000 Ameren customers lost power Monday morning – many of which were in the St. Louis area – according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A car is stuck in flood water over South Hanley Road, just north of Manchester Road, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, in Brentwood, Missouri.
(David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

































(MORE: The Louisiana Flood, by the Numbers)
Some 50 miles to the south, about 30 homes were evacuated in De Soto when heavy rain caused flash flooding.
"It came up pretty rapidly," De Soto Police Chief Rick Draper said. "Around 3:45 a.m. is when we started getting some calls."
The sudden surge of water went down about as rapidly — by mid-morning, residents were mostly able to return home, where some found water damage, Draper said.
At the height of the brief flood, a woman stranded in one of the homes went into labor, Draper said. Rescuers were able to boat to the home and get the woman to an ambulance, which took her to the hospital. Draper hadn't heard whether she delivered.
Parts of St. Louis County, especially in the Florissant area, received more than 7 inches of rain from late Sunday night into mid-morning, and the rain was still falling, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Walsh. Cape Girardeau in southeast Missouri had about 8 inches of rain for the weekend.
Several people still attempted to cross flooded roads this morning. **PLEASE**

Walsh said the Mississippi and Missouri rivers were not expected to climb above flood stage, but the Meramec River in the St. Louis area is expected to see minor flooding starting as early as Tuesday. The Meramec reached record flood levels in many spots during a rare December flood, but Walsh said nothing so severe is expected this time.
More rain is expected into Tuesday morning, Walsh said.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
MORE: Historic Flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi

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