Some Lyon County roads are opening again after massive rainfall amounts earlier this week.
The Lyon County Highway Department says the following roads are now open:
*Road 140 from F-5 to G
*Road 150 from D to E
*Road 160 from N to P
*Road 170 from S to U
*Road 180 from Burlingame Road to N-5; from Y to Z
*Road 190 from L-5 to N
*Road 210 from Burlingame Road to R-7
*Road 220 from N to T
*Road L from 110 to 130
*Road M-7 from 160 to 165
*Road N from 210 to 220
*Road W from Kansas Highway 170 to 270
*Road X from 255 to 270
*Road Y from 255 to 280
*Road Z from Kansas Highway 170 to 270
Emporia State Emergency Management also says East 18th has reopened near Emporia State University’s Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center.
The list of road closures:
*Road 150 from J to Kansas Highway 99
*Road 160 from G to H
*Road 167 from R to S
*Road 170 and G (Merrick Tower)
*Road 170 from F to G
*Road 190 from K to Kansas Highway 99
*Road 195 from Kansas Highway 99 to L-5
*Road 200 from Burlingame to R
*Road 215 from F-5 to H-5
*Road 220 east of M. There is damage to repair before reopening
*Road 225 from F-5 to Emporia city limits
*Road G south of 50; from 150 to 175
*Road G-5 from 155 to 160
*Road H from 155-170
*Road J from 190 to 215
*Road K from 190 to 210; from 220 to 230
*Road M from 190 to 200. M from 197 to 210 has damage to repair before reopening
*Road N from 160 to 170; 210 to 220
*Road P from Burlingame to 240
*Road R from 160 to 167
*Road S from 190 to 200 has damage to repair before reopening
11:30 am Thursday: Some Lyon County roads reopen, but majority of flood-affected roads remain barricaded
Flood-related travel issues from earlier this week appear to be easing as we get to the end of the week.
There is still a long list of closed roads in Lyon County, but several reopened Thursday morning:
*Road M-7 from 160 to 165
*Road 150 from D to E
*Road 160 from N to P
*Road 170 from S to U
*East 18th near Emporia State University’s Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods tells KVOE News the range of damage to county roads may well vary.
The list of road closures:
*Road 140 700 block
*Road 150 from J to Kansas Highway 99
*Road 160 from G to H
*Road 167 from R to S
*Road 170 and G (Merrick Tower)
*Road 170 from F to G
*Road 180 from Burlingame to N-5; from Y to Z
*Road 190 from K to Kansas Highway 99; from L-5 to N
*Road 195 from Kansas Highway 99 to L-5
*Road 200 from Burlingame to R
*Road 210 from Burlingame to R-7
*Road 215 from F-5 to H-5
*Road 220 from N to S
*Road 225 from F-5 to Emporia city limits
*Road G south of 50; from 150 to 175
*Road G-5 from 155 to 160
*Road H from 155-170
*Road J from 190 to 215
*Road K from 190 to 210; from 220 to 230
*Road L from 110 to 130
*Road M from 190 to 200
*Road N from 160 to 170; 210 to 220
*Road P from Burlingame to 240
*Road R from 160 to 167
*Road S from 190 to 200
*Road W from Kansas Highway 170 to Road 270
*Road X from 255 to 270
*Road Y from 255 to 280
*Road Z from Kansas Highway 170 to Road 270
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell reminded drivers outside Emporia to heed barricades that are out and may get moved downstream later.
Cumulative totals from this week:
*KVOE studios: 2.8 inches Wednesday, 7.8 inches total
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 1.65 inches Wednesday, 5.78 inches total
*10th and Weaver: 8.5 inches total
*18th and Briarcliff: 9.34 inches total
*South and Sylvan: 2.1 inches Wednesday, 8.1 inches total
*Coronado Avenue: 10.2 inches total
*Deerbrook Addition: 5.8 inches total
*6 miles north of Gridley: 3.8 inches total
*Between Hartford and Olpe: 4.8 inches total
*Neosho Rapids: 6.3 inches total
*Southwest Olpe: 6.25 inches total
*Olpe Lake: 2.2 inches Wednesday, 6 inches total
*1 mile west of Olpe Ag Choice: 8 inches total
*1800 block Road G: 9.21 inches total
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you have rain totals, both daily and total for this rain event, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 620-342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
6:50 am Thursday: Flooding risk lessening, but numerous roads remain closed
The risk of flooding rain will likely be ending by lunchtime Thursday, if not sooner, after massive rain totals Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Flood warnings for Lyon and Osage counties, as well as a flood warning for the Salt Creek near Lyndon, are now over. So is a flood watch for Chase County. The KVOE studios got just under 8 inches of rainfall, including 2.8 inches of rain Wednesday. Some residents near Emporia got close to 10 inches total. Current totals:
*KVOE studios: 2.8 inches Wednesday, 7.8 inches total
*Emporia Municipal Airport: 1.65 inches Wednesday, 5.78 inches total
*10th and Weaver: 8.5 inches total
*18th and Briarcliff: 9.25 inches total
*South and Sylvan: 2.1 inches Wednesday, 8.1 inches total
*Between Hartford and Olpe: 4.8 inches total
*Southwest Olpe: 6.25 inches total
*Olpe Lake: 2.2 inches Wednesday, 6 inches total
More showers and storms are possible Thursday, but less than a quarter of an inch is expected by noon — not enough to aggravate flooding, according to the National Weather Service and TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers.
Kansas Highway 99 reopened north of Emporia shortly before 5 pm after being closed virtually all day Thursday, but there is still a long list of road closures:
*Road 140 700 block
*Road 150 from D to E; J to Kansas Highway 99
*Road 160 from G to H; from N to P
*Road 167 from R to S
*Road 170 and G (Merrick Tower)
*Road 170 from F to G; from S to U
*Road 180 from Burlingame to N-5; from Y to Z
*Road 190 from K to Kansas Highway 99; from L-5 to N
*Road 195 from Kansas Highway 99 to L-5
*Road 200 from Burlingame to R
*Road 210 from Burlingame to R-7
*Road 215 from F-5 to H-5
*Road 220 from N to S
*Road 225 from F-5 to Emporia city limits
*Road G south of 50; from 150 to 175
*Road G-5 from 155 to 160
*Road H from 155-170
*Road J from 190 to 215
*Road K from 190 to 210; from 220 to 230
*Road L from 110 to 130
*Road M from 190 to 200
*Road M-7 from 160 to 165
*Road N from 160 to 170; 210 to 220
*Road P from Burlingame to 240
*Road R from 160 to 167
*Road S from 190 to 200
*Road W from Kansas Highway 170 to Road 270
*Road X from 255 to 270
*Road Y from 255 to 280
*Road Z from Kansas Highway 170 to Road 270
Basement flooding was definitely an issue in and around Emporia. Jason Spellman of Plumbing by Spellman on Wednesday’s traffic:
Meanwhile, the city’s storm drainage system was hammered with almost 1.7 billion estimated gallons of water Tuesday night into Wednesday, according to City Communications Manager Christine Torrens. The up to 10 inches of rainfall this week contrasts with the city’s average annual rainfall of around 36 inches.
City Manager Trey Cocking says there was some short-term localized flooding and some sewer backups, but the storm drain system did well for the most part — given the fact this was a 25-to-100-year event.
Crews have been working to clear debris from storm drains, and that work may need to continue Thursday. Cocking and Torrens encourage residents to avoid dumping leaves in storm drains because they can clog drains, causing flooding and — if not removed before rotting — algae. Instead, residents are advised to rake, compost, bag and mulch their leaves.
Cocking also says the city has a cost-share program where the city will pay half of a backflow preventer installation up to $1,200. Requests have to be approved in advance by the city’s Building and Neighborhood Services Department.
Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell was busy in a support role Wednesday.
As far as area rivers, all are within their banks and are falling Thursday morning.
There are isolated schedule adjustments Thursday, one due to the ran and one due to another reason:
*The Osage City-Neodeshea playoff football game originally Thursday at Osage City moved to 7 pm Thursday at Emporia High.
*USD 284 Chase County is on a two-hour delay due to a water main break early Wednesday.
Be sure to stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates. If you have rain totals, both daily and total for this rain event, message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863. If you have schedule adjustments, call KVOE at 620-342-1400 or email kvoe@kvoe.com.
