Missouri flooding: Dozens of water rescues reported, campground building collapses into floodwaters

Dozens of people were rescued Friday in Missouri amid rapidly rising floodwaters, including several campers who took shelter on the roof of a building that collapsed, authorities said.

Initial reports from the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office indicated 10 to 17 individuals, who were on the roof awaiting rescue, may have entered the water as a result of the collapse.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol later said the campers were safe and have been rescued.

Overall, more than 90 water rescues were conducted involving residents, campers and motorists affected by the flooding, the sheriff’s office said.

Five campers who were previously reported missing from Bearcat Getaway Campground were later located and accounted for, authorities said.

In neighboring Iron County, campers at the Taum Sauk campsite were alerted about 2:30 am to the rising water levels after the area saw more than 12 inches of rain, Kate Moore, the public information officer for Missouri Region C Incident Support Team, told KFVS-12 Heartland News.

The campers, about 168 teenagers and 60 adults, were airlifted out of the flooded area by National Guard helicopters, Moore said.

She said there were no reports of any deaths or any missing people.

People remain stranded by the high waters, she added. “But they’re OK. They’re just stranded because the roads are washed away. We have a lot of damage, the trees, buildings, a lot of things have gone and ripped the roads away,” she said.

In nearby Crawford County, one person remains missing following flooding, authorities said. Search efforts involving the sheriff’s office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other agencies will resume Saturday morning after being suspended overnight.

The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to flash flooding.

“Over the past 24 hours, intense storms have created dangerous flash flooding across several regions of Missouri, resulting in multiple swift-water rescues. Activating the State Emergency Operations Plan allows our agencies to move quickly, coordinate resources, and support local response efforts,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement Friday.

“With additional heavy rain expected through the weekend, the threat is not over. If you’re camping, floating, or spending time near rivers and streams, move to higher ground and stay alert of weather conditions,” Kehoe said. “Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities.”

Rescue operations began around 2:30 am on Friday after emergency calls reported numerous campers trapped by rising water, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A flash flood emergency has been declared for several locations in Missouri and additional thunderstorms with heavy rain are expected to continue throughout the evening.

Water rescues were reported amid catastrophic flooding.

In parts of Iron and Reynolds counties, 7 to 12 inches of rain have fallen. The Black River at Lesterville rose 8 feet in an hour, with that water working its way toward Annapolis, where river levels quickly rose.

This emergency includes recreational places such as Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Towns in the emergency include Viburnum, Annapolis, Glover, Oates, Bixby, Lesterville, Black, Hogan, Chloride and Sabula.

Additional rounds of heavy rain and storms will continue from the central Plains east to the Ohio Valley and interior parts of the Northeast through this weekend.

There is a level 3 of 4 (moderate risk) for excessive rainfall over already hard-hit southeastern Missouri on Friday. Also, a level 2 of 4 (slight risk) for excessive rainfall from parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Central Appalachians.

A Flood Watch is in effect for over 21 million Americans, from Pennsylvania to Tennessee and west to Missouri.

Officials are warning Missourians not to attempt to drive through floodwaters even if the water appears shallow.

Just 6 inches of floodwater can sweep a person off their feet, and as little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road.

“More than half of flood deaths in Missouri are victims in vehicles. Nighttime severe weather is particularly dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. If you find yourself stranded by floodwaters, immediately call for help and seek higher ground,” the governor’s office warned Friday.

-ABC News’ Alexandra Fine and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.