Flash Flood — Douglas, Nebraska

2004-07-22 · near Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall in the Omaha metropolitan area caused areas of flash flooding, especially near the Saddle Creek and Center Streets area, near the intersections of 96th and Q Streets, 17th and Ames Avenue and 108th and Q streets. It was near that last location where a 29-year-old male apparently drowned after his car became stalled in flood waters and he was swept away in a nearby drainage ditch as he was walking for help. His body was found more than 20 miles downstream in the Missouri River after it was surmised that his body traveled from the ditch into the Big Papillion Creek and then eventually into the Missouri River. Other flooding occurred when a pool of water 6 feet high developed near the Saddle Creek location carrying off a few vehicles and flooding at least one apartment complex. Several businesses were flooded and sewers backed up into properties. Eppley Airfield reported 2.66 inches of rain from the storm in just a several hour period, while some locations in midtown Omaha received almost 3.5 inches of rain.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5415805. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.