Flood — Sumner, Kansas

2008-09-13 · near Argonia, Sumner, Kansas

Event narrative

Raging water along the Chikaskia River caused 5 teenagers to become trapped, as they were rafting down the river. The water rescue that followed lead to 3 emergency workers ending up in the water along with the stranded teenagers. A volunteer firefighter then attempted to make an individual rescue, but lost his balance, and was swept under by the strong current. The man later died from injuries sustained during the rescue.

Wider weather episode

Moisture plume from the Southwest United States spread northeast towards the plains and interacted with a stationary boundary to produce a deluge of rainfall across Central and South Central Kansas. Rainfall amounts were generally around 5 inches, however isolated amounts reached up to 11.00 inches on the West side of Wichita, Kansas. Wichita Mid Continent Airport reported the greatest 24 rainfall total (10.31 inches) in its history.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.2447, -97.7598)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 135170. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.