Boone County crews monitor water levels, shut down flooded roads

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: Boone County Road and Bridge crews are monitoring flood conditions. Two workers checked the water level on Gillespie Bridge Road just before 9 p.m. Wednesday and said the water was too deep for the road to reopen.

Boone County Road and Bridge also closed Easley River Road at around 7:30 Wednesday evening due to flooding.

ABC 17 crews saw drivers get out of their vehicles to move the barricades in order to drive through. Boone County crews said they called Boone County Sheriff’s office early Wednesday to request authorities monitor the road and deter drivers from using the closed road.

ORIGINAL: Rescue and public works crews in Boone County say they’re ready if needed during expected heavy overnight rains.

Two roads in Boone County remained closed Wednesday evening because of floodwaters – North Strawn Road in west Columbia and Gillespie Bridge Road. Other roads that had been closed earlier — Route E north of Columbia and Creasy Springs Road — had reopened.

About 3 to 4 inches of rain fell on mid-Missouri overnight Tuesday and more rain was expected overnight Wednesday.

Drivers can check the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map for the latest information on road conditions for roads in the department’s jurisdiction. Roads closed by Boone County can be found here.

Unlike their counterparts in other mid-Missouri counties, the members of the Boone County Fire Protection District have not been called to any water rescues during flash flooding this week.

Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said many people who live in Boone County understand that flooding happens almost every spring.

“In our jurisdiction, most people are familiar with those low-lying areas,” Blomenkamp said. “So they understand that those areas flood, and so whether they avoid them or they know what those limits are of how much rainfall that it takes to flood out an area they’re familiar with it.”

Blomenkamp said drivers should pay extra attention at night when water is difficult to see on the road. He said usually when the department is called to a water rescue it is because a driver did not realize how deep water on the road was and their vehicle stalled.

Blomenkamp said drivers who go through standing water put themselves in danger, but they also endanger the crews who have to rescue them and bystanders who might try to help.

He said fast-moving water is usually the most dangerous.

With the rain moving into the area Wednesday night, there could be more flash flooding.

“Flash flooding accounts for more deaths than tornadoes in the United States, so it is a real possibility here in Boone County,” Blomenkamp said.

The Boone County Fire Protection District has the equipment and manpower to assist people if they need it during the flooding, Blomenkamp said.

Boone County Road and Bridge and Columbia Public Works said they would have crews on standby overnight in case flash flooding again closes roads.

“Public Works has staff on call to respond to flooded roads or large obstructions in the road,” Columbia Public Works spokesman Barry Dalton said. “We are ready to place (barricades) should the need arise.”

Boone County Road and Bridge officials said the agency has used more rock to shore up roads after flooding than in recent months, but the budget for spring storm cleanup is still in good shape.