Flood — Shawnee, Kansas

2007-05-07 to 2007-05-08 · near Wakarusa, Shawnee, Kansas

Event narrative

Most homes in the town of Wakarusa inundated with flood waters from the Wakarusa River. Water rescues of 22 residents stranded on their rooftops were conducted by the fire department. The rescues were hampered by floating propane tanks. Numerous roads in the county were closed by flood waters. Topeka city schools and some surrounding schools canceled classes. 500 water rescues were made in Topeka...300 along the Shunganunga Creek alone. The Rossville nursing home evacuated it's residents as a caution of flooding due to Cross Creek. Lake Sherwood, southwest of Topeka, reported water three feet above the emergency spillway. Numerous county roads were closed due to the flooding. Lowland flooding continued in the vicinity of Topeka with moderate or greater flooding along the Kansas River.

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 → (38.8800, -95.7000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 33816. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.