Flood — Harvey, Kansas

1998-11-01 to 1998-11-05 · Harvey, Kansas

Event narrative

At approximately 100 AM on 11/01/98, one woman, aged 50, was driving north on old U.S. Highway 81 from Wichita toward Newton when she encountered a barricade postioned across the highway due to water from jesper Creek. She ignored the barricade and drove into the water where her car stalled. At this point she left her car and began wading. Her car was subsequently swept off the highway and found between 1/4 and 1/2 mile downstream with the victim's body found an unspecified distance further.

Wider weather episode

Widespread heavy rains of 6-10 inches inundated South-Central and Southeast Kansas from the evening of October 30th thru November 1st while 4-8 inches drenched Central Kansas. As a result, record flooding occurred along the following rivers:Whitewater River: At Towanda: crest: 30.53 feet on 11/01/98. (Old record: 29.73 feet on 06/08/79). At Augusta: crest: 34.95 feet on 11/01/98. (Old record: 32.70 feet on 06/08/79).Arkansas River: At Derby: crest: 16.60 feet on 11/01/98. (Old record: 16.19 feet on 07/15/93). At Arkansas City, 28.89 feet on 11/03/98. (Old record: 27.62 feet on 05/11/93).Walnut River: At Arkansas City: crest: 32.45 feet on 11/03/98. (Old record: 29.22 feet on 06/11/95).Cottonwood River: At Florence: crest: 28.67 feet on 11/01/98. (Old record: 28.03 feet on 06/17/95). At Plymouth: crest: 36.77 feet on 11/01/98. (Old record: 35.70 feet on 06/05/65).The record flooding resulted in 1 confirmed death, 2 injuries, just over 5,300 evacuations, and $32 million in damage to crops, highways, property (both business and private), and soil erosion. Of the evacuations, 3,000 occurred in and around Arkansas City in southwest Cowley County and 1,800 occurred in and around Augusta in southwest Butler County. In West Wichita, 100 people were evacuated when Cowskin Creek flooded. The most significant damage occurred in and around Augusta where 565 homes, 230 mobile homes (many were a total loss), and 100 businesses sustained damage. All told, $10 million in damage were assessed in Butler County. Cowley County was the 2nd hardest hit area with $8 million damage assessed including 479 structures, both residential and business. The majority of the damage occurred in and around Arkansas City. In Sedgwick County, the Cowskin Creek flooded causing $4 million damage to homes, businesses , roads and crops.In Sumner County, 2 people were treated for hypothermia at a local hospital. Though record crests were not achieved on the Chikaskia and Ninnescah Rivers, significant flooding occurred none-the-less as 70 people were evacuated in Argonia along the Chikaskia and in Belle Plaine along the Ninnescah. There were also evacuations in Mulvane along the Arkansas River.In Chase County, approximately 200 people were evacuated in Cedar Point, Saffordville, Strong City and Elmdale. In Elmdale only 1 residence escaped flooding. The $2 million damage was inflicted upon crops, roads, residences and soil erosion.In Greenwood County, most of the $500,000 damage was due to roads being washed out.In Neosho County, $500,000 damage occurred mainly due to partial failure of a levy in Chanute.In Wilson County, 50 people were evacuated in and around Coyville when Toronto Lake began releasing. However, no significant damage resulted.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5675565. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.