Drivers urged to avoid water as heavy rain leads to flooded roads
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Several roads around Mid-Missouri were closed Wednesday and a flood warning was in effect for a Missouri River tributary in Boone County as more storms threatened the area.
Among them is part of Old Plank Road in south Columbia, where crews put up a barrier to prevent vehicles from driving through water over the road.
The National Weather Service in St. Louis issued a flood warning for the Hinkson Creek in Columbia after a round of heavy morning rain. The weather service reported 1.28 inches of rain recorded at Ashland.
The heavy rain has prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation to warn drivers to not drive through any roads that are flooded. The agency hopes drivers will report an roads that aren't already blocked off to drivers.
MoDOT Area Engineer Kirsten Munck said depending on the storm and the level of saturation of the ground, rain storms have the potential to cause serious issues for drivers on the roads.
"If the water has nowhere to go ... it overflows, it's overtopping the road and can cause a lot of hazards," Munck said. "The roadway could be washed out underneath."
According to the National Weather Service, just 6 inches of water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing potential loss of control and stalling. The service tells drivers to "turn around, don't drown."
"It only takes 6 inches to float your car on down the stream," Munck said. "It's basically creating a canoe without a paddle at that point."
Munck recommends drivers always turn around and take an alternative route, even if other drivers ahead of them seem to be successfully getting through the flooded water.
"We absolutely don't recommend anybody driving through the water," Munck said. "Waters are rising very quickly and in those cases, I would not trust what you're able to see your neighbor doing ahead of you to make sure you're safe."
Munck also said drivers should remember to turn their headlights on and slow down.
MoDOT tells drivers to check its traveler map to see if any roads are closed before leaving.
As of 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Route Z westbound in Howard County was closed due to flooding according to the traveler map.
Southbound Route BB in Cooper County was also closed because of flooding.
Southern Boone County Fire Protection District's Facebook page shared a warning post about flooded waters on Jemerson Creek Road on Wednesday.
Another round of storms was possible late Wednesday afternoon into the evening.
