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FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR EMMISSION ERRORS

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO

1013 AM CDT SUN AUG 18 2002



...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CALLAWAY AND BOONE

COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM CDT...



AT 1013 AM CDT...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FLASH FLOODING IN AND 

AROUND THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.



RAINFALL MEASUREMENTS THROUGH 1000 AM CDT INCLUDE 4.38 IN DOWNTOWN 

COLUMBIA AND 4.53 ABOUT A HALF MILE SOUTH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF 

MISSOUR FOOTBALL STADIUM.



NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AT ST LOUIS ESTIMATES 4 TO 6 

INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN FROM WEST OF COLUMBIA NEAR INTERSTATE 70 

SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE COLUMBIA REGIONAL AIRPORT AND JUST NORTH OF 

ASHLAND...CONTINUING SOUTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN CALLAWAY COUNTY JUST 

SOUTH OF FULTON.



THE COLUMBIA EMERGENCY OPERATING CENTER REPORTED MANY FLOODED STREETS

IN COLUMBIA. A NUMBER OF BASEMENTS HAVE ALSO FLOODED. IN ONE SUCH

SITUATION IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE CITY A BASEMENT FLOODED AND

THE RESIDENT WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICITY AND HE WAS

SHOCKED AND CRITICALLY INJURED. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME A NEW EARTHEN

DAM FOR AN ADJACENT SUBDIVISION BROKE, FLOODING THE ROADS AND 

ADJACENT PARK AREA WITH CHEST DEEP WATER. FIRETRUCKS AND RESCUE 

VEHICLES WERE ON THE WAY TO RESCUE THE VICTIM AND WERE FLOODED WITH 

THE DELUGE FROM THE BROKEN DAM.



MANY CARS HAVE BEEN FLOODED AND PERSONS IN THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO 

LEAVE THE VEHICLES.



THE RAIN HAS ENDED IN BOONE COUNTY AND WILL END IN CALLAWAY COUNTY 

BY 1100 AM...HOWEVER THE RAIN HAS FALLEN SO FAST THAT 

DITCHES...STREAMS...AND TRIBUTARIES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE OR RUN OUT 

OF THEIR BANKS FOR A TIME WHILE TRYING TO CATCH UP FROM THE COPIOUS 

RAINS.



THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL BE CONTINUED UNTIL 1130 AM...BUT PERSONS

THROUGHOUT THE AREA SHOULD STILL TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. IF YOUR 

BASEMENT IS SERIOUSLY FLOODED...CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY 

OFFICIALS REGARDING POWER AND LET THEM HANDLE IT. DO NOT TAKE ANY 

CHANCES.



SCHOOL IS OUT...CHILDREN WILL BE TEMPTED TO PLAY IN FLOWING WATER. 

KEEP THEM AWAY FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. THEY CAN BE SWEPT AWAY INTO 

DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EASILY.



MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. AVOID BRIDGES...DIPS...

OR OTHER LOW LYING AREAS...AND NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS

WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT

TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER

SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.



PEDIGO/BRITT

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