Flash Flood — Shawnee, Kansas

2007-05-07 · near Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas

Event narrative

Shawnee county dispatch reported water rescues were being conducted along the Shunganunga Creek. Water entering residences south of Washburn University. Almost 500 water rescues were completed in the city of Topeka.

Wider weather episode

Another round of heavy rain producing thunderstorms gave flash flooding. The city of Topeka made nearly 500 water rescues due to the flash flooding. The community of Wakarusa also had a few water rescues as well. The accumulation of rain from this episode along with earlier rains the last several days was bringing moderate or greater flooding to some of the major rivers in the area. This river flooding lasted for several more days. The heavy rain episodes of the last several days produced widespread amounts of three to six inches with some amounts along the Kansas river basin of nearly nine inches. An unofficial report in the Topeka area had nearly a foot of rain falling within this 48 hour period. Flooding from this episode and previous flooding the past few days brought local disaster emergency declarations for Osage, Lyon, Shawnee, Washington and Douglas counties. This action qualified these counties for state and federal aid. Shawnee, Osage, Lyon and Douglas counties qualified for FEMA funds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.0500, -95.6800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 31385. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.