Historic high water closed numerous highways and damaged property Saturday in Texas County before rain quit on Sunday.
Texas County activated its emergency management operations center at about 5 p.m. Saturday at the Texas County Administrative Center on Grand Avenue. Numerous highways in the county were impassable, and water rescues occurred Saturday. Missouri is under a state of emergency. A Kansas City Fire Department rescue team also was deployed locally.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a special response team was sent early Saturday evening to southeast Texas County near Pleasant Hill and Panther Road. South Highway 181 at Cabool was closed after a propane tank was seen floating. Cabool firefighters were sent.
Significant flooding — not seen before — was reported throughout south-central Missouri. At Houston, the Herald’s rain gauge shows 11.3 inches beginning Friday through early Sunday.
Damage is widespread in Howell County. Near West Plains, an ambulance was called after a mother was in labor at roadside. A trooper rescued occupants, including a three-year-old child, on U.S. 63 near the West Plains Country Club.
Earlier, a rescue of four people and a dog were reported on the Big Piney River.
Flooding began early Saturday morning
Heavy rain began falling Friday overnight on already saturated ground. In the city of Houston, Brushy Creek was out of its banks and a Walnut Street/Highway F bridge was closed. At 11:30 a.m., the south end of Highway 17 from the Dogs Bluff Bridge was reported one foot over the roadway.
About 9:30 a.m. the Houston Rural Fire Department responded to Elk Creek Drive, where a man was trapped in a truck that was being moved by rushing water. He managed to escape and make it to dry land. The location was off Highway H, authorities said.
City of Houston Fire Department personnel were called to flooded areas at Brushy Creek, Main Street and Walnut Street at about 8:05 a.m. There was some damage reported in the area. Houston City Administrator Larry Sutton said Saturday night that the wastewater sewer plant near Brushy Creek was still operating.
Property damaged
Owners of businesses at U.S. 63 and Walnut Street in Houston scurried Friday in the middle of the night to save as much inventory as possible, stacking livestock feed and home improvement items in an attempt to prevent them from being overcome by the immensely swollen waters of Brushy Creek.
Water rescues reported
Earlier Saturday morning, authorities reported the Boiling Springs campground had already been evacuated and persons sent to higher ground. Just before 2 p.m. a water rescue was reported at Boiling Springs. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported those affected were brought to dry ground.
At about 4:30 p.m., a water rescue was reported at Montgomery Lake at Cabool. At 4:55 p.m. a rescue was underway at Panther Road and Highway AM near Cabool, where water surrounded a trailer home with occupants in it. Three persons were rescued. Damage to a bridge was reported on Highway HH. No one was injured.