Historic flash flooding in Kansas City
Flooding is the No. 1 weather-related death in the United States. Just last year, 176 people died as a result of flooding.-That’s nearly three times more than wind, which killed 65 people in 2015.- Due to the hazards that flooding can cause, meteorologists are constantly stressing the importance of understanding what you should do in a flooding situation.
This past weekend the Heartland of the U.S. faced one of natures scariest events — flash flooding. Included within that was Kansas City which experienced a historic flooding event. – Nearly 5 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Flash Flood Emergency. This emergency is only issued when severe flooding situations happen in densely populated areas. It’s the first time in history this has ever occurred in the metro. – Prior to the emergency, area creeks and rivers rose nearly 10 feet within an hour.
The flooding in downtown Kansas City left several cars underwater, shut down the city’s street car service, and kept emergency responders busy with 10 water rescues. Certain conditions within the atmosphere helped set the city up for the situation. The rain came during a time when the atmosphere was ripe with moisture and when embedded waves of energy were squeezing every bit of rain out that they could.- Southerly winds through the day both at the surface and aloft kept pulling copious amounts of moisture into a system that was already moving slowly.
It was the perfect set-up for heavy rain events not only in Kansas City, but across the Heartland. -The flooding forced one fish hatchery in Iowa to evacuate 150,000 fish due to a potential breach of a levee.-
Events of this nature are rare, but as seen in West Virginia and Louisiana this year, they can and do happen.- That’s why it’s extremely important to make sure you are prepared by staying alert.- The NWS has some steps in which you can follow to make sure you stay safe, they are as follows:
Head to higher ground.
Avoid water covered roadways.
Abandon your vehicle if trapped.
Just 6 inches of water can knock you down, with only 2 feet of water sweeping your vehicle away.
Avoid camping or walking around rivers, streams, and creeks during heavy rainfall events.
Be especially cautious at night.
Keep children away from high water.
When flash flood warnings are issued, it’s up to you to take immediate action to stay safe. Tune into local media to get the latest information about your area.
