Numerous roads remain closed after moderate rainfall Friday was followed by heavy rainfall over the weekend.
Kansas Highway 99 is closed between Roads 180 and 240, or just north of Emporia. Other closures:
*1900 block of Road M
*2500 block of Road N
*2500 block of Road P
*1100 block of Road 190
*500 block of Road 240
*Road 150 between K and Highway 99
*West of Road 150 and P
*Road 140 West of Hwy 99
*Road 170 from Road N – P
*Road “B5” North of Hwy 50 around a washout. According to the Lyon County Highway Department the road is still passable at this time.
*Road P North of Road 160
*Road R North of Road 160
*Road S North of Road 150 to Road 170
Road and Bridge Crews have also begun removing barricades from some roadways.
Barricades have been removed from the following roads:
*Lockerman Road (Rd.150-F)
*Merrick Tower (Rd. 170 & F)
Numerous Emporia intersections went under water Sunday due to several bouts of heavy rainfall as well. Americus Road was closed just north of the town for several hours but has since reopened.
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell says the situation is still in flux.
Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch says flooding incidents in nearby communities have not been largely severe, however, KVOE received reports of significant street flooding in and around Americus on Sunday evening. The number of reports quickly subsided. Dunlap, however, is “totally flooded,” according to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
Saturday-Sunday rain totals as recorded by or reported to KVOE News through noon:
*KVOE studios: 5 inches
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 3.64 inches
*Ninth and Burns: 5.1 inches
*Ninth and Lawrence: 5.1 inches
*10th and Weaver: 4.5 inches
*11th and Market: 4 inches
*15th and Berkeley: 6.5 inches
*Lake Kahola: 4.25 inches
*Reading: 5 inches
The list of flood warnings has expanded since noon Sunday:
*Flood warning: Lyon, north Coffey, Osage and southeast Wabaunsee counties until 12:45 pm
*Flood warning: southeast Morris County until 12:45 pm
*Flood warning: Neosho River at Emporia until late Tuesday night. The river was at 20.29 feet Monday morning, above flood stage of 19 feet, and causing moderate flooding near the gauge. It could climb to 23.7 feet by Monday evening. It may go below flood stage Tuesday afternoon.
*Flood warning: Neosho River at Americus until Tuesday afternoon. The river rose to 16.3 feet, well below flood stage of 26 feet, and fell to 11.25 feet Monday morning. It could still climb to 26.2 feet Monday evening. It could go below flood stage Tuesday morning. Minor flooding is expected if the forecast holds.
*Flood warning: Neosho River at Neosho Rapids until Tuesday evening. The river is at 22.21 feet, just above flood stage of 22 and causing minor flooding. It could climb as high as 24 feet Monday afternoon before going below flood stage Monday night.
*Flood warning: Marais des Cygnes above Reading until Monday night. The river has apparently crested at 24.57 feet, above flood stage of 19 feet and has fallen to 22.87 feet. It could fall below flood stage before noon Monday.
*Flood warning: Salt Creek near Lyndon until early Tuesday. The river has apparently crested at 13.77 feet, above flood stage of 10 feet, and has fallen to 12.55 feet. Minor flooding is ongoing. The river could go below flood stage Monday afternoon.
The weather led to a pair of incidents near Emporia on Sunday.
Emergency crews were called to Kansas Turnpike mile marker 137.4 southbound, roughly 10 miles north of Emporia, for a crash shortly before 5 pm. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2010 Dodge Avenger driven by 83-year-old James Thompson of Wichita was traveling southbound when he lost control of the vehicle due to slick conditions. The vehicle then entered the west ditch, struck an embankment and overturned.
Thompson and a passenger, 82-year-old Deanne Thompson, were both taken to Newman Regional Health with what are being called suspected minor injuries.
Emporia Fire was then called to the intersection of Roads 170 and G early Sunday evening for a water rescue. According to Emporia Fire, an individual attempted to drive through the water-covered roadway when their vehicle stalled out.
Once on scene, firefighters made contact with the individual and managed to hook them up to a tow truck which pulled the vehicle out of the water. The occupant inside the vehicle was unharmed.
There was no barricade in place at the intersection prior to the accident, however, a barricade has since been placed in the area. The name of the driver is not being released.
Photos by Jesse Dains
{gallery}051621 Flood Jesse Dains{/gallery}
Photo by Jason Passmore
{gallery}051621 Flood Jason Passmore{/gallery}
