These KC-area neighborhoods were overwhelmed by flooding Monday. Here’s why
Eastern Wyandotte County residents saw their streets, basements, businesses and at least one place of worship flood as storms raged across the Kansas City metro and elsewhere on Monday evening.
By mid-morning Tuesday, much of the water had receded, people tossed their water-damaged possessions to the curb and much of the local pandemonium simmered back to lasting frustration.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a new problem in neighborhoods like Argentine and Armourdale, which sit in a plain along the Kansas River. And although the local public works department said drainage pumps operated as they should, the gravity of Monday’s storms stressed a need to address issues prompted by capacity limitations and debris.
Jeff Miles, who directs the environmental services division for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said his team will do whatever it takes to address ongoing stormwater retention problems in the area. He said flooding stemmed from rapidly-incoming and high-volume rainfall that relentlessly pumped through stormwater pump stations; limited capacity within combined stormwater-wastewater systems; and debris that clogged neighborhood catch basins and stormwater grates.
Although most happened in the Argentine and Armordale areas, the Turner neighborhood, Strawberry Hill, Minnesota and Eighth Street and Orville Avenue also saw notable flooding. Miles said he took at least 20 calls from community members who reported flooding in their homes or business. Miles said the environmental services department is still trying to evaluate the extent of the flooding and damages, as well as what specifically complicated flooding in each area.
Christian Ramirez, the District 3 commissioner who oversees Argentine and Rosedale, said in a Monday evening social media post that he planned to soon organize a community meeting that would allow environmental services staff to explain the flooding in more detail and field resident questions.
“As we prepare for the next round of storms, I urge everyone to help keep storm drains clear by making sure trash and large debris are properly secured and not left where they could be swept into the system,” Ramirez said. “I’ll share details about the upcoming meeting as soon as they’re confirmed. Until then, please continue to stay safe and look out for one another.
Fixing the flooding problem
Miles was born and raised in Argentine, and he said he remembers when his mother’s beauty shop would flood on stormy days. Having that experience gives him some perspective to the issues people are seeing today.
“I want to do everything I can to protect Argentine,” he said.
To do that, a few things need to be done. The Unified Government must completely separate its sewage and wastewater lines in compliance with a consent decree from the federal government. Fully separating those lines, a project that remains in the works, will allow the government to increase the capacity of its stormwater lines, Miles said. The UG has a series of ongoing separation projects intended to meet the terms of the consent decree.
Although the environmental services department regularly cleans neighborhood stormwater outlets, especially ahead of storms, residents can help prevent systems being backed up by not blowing their yard waste out on the street and picking up debris that may flow into storm drains during heavy rain, Miles said.
“When it rains like it did yesterday (debris) runs right to our storm drains,” he said, adding the department will look into whether it needs to increase its sweeps.
The department also wants to introduce roll cart trash cans to neighborhoods that currently leave their trash bags on the curb. Miles plans to hold public meetings, including one in Piper on Wednesday, to explain why that could prevent trash piling and debris buildup.
He’s looking forward to participating in community engagement opportunities to help figure out the issue and added he welcomes anyone interested in learning more about environmental services to contact him.
Flooding of homes, businesses in Argentine
Amanda DeVriese-Sebilla, of the Argentine Betterment Corporation, said she’s seen and heard of homes flooding in Argentine on and off over the past few years. She said residents living between Argentine Boulevard and Metropolitan Avenue often get hit the hardest when large storms pass over town. Monday night’s storm was one of the worst the neighborhood had seen in a few years, she said.
“This has happened before so it definitely has to be addressed,” DeVriese-Sebilla said.
DeVriese-Sebilla heard from numerous frustrated residents whose basements flooded. Some residents’ vehicles suffered water damage. She said she didn’t want to cast blame on local entities, but that the effects of climate change should be factored into planning.
Velia Chavez, who runs Velia Chavez Insurance and Income Tax Services, closed up shop Tuesday to clean up water damage in her office. She wrote on social media that she saw flooding on both Monday evening and again on Tuesday morning. The office had to remove most furniture and relocate client documents somewhere dry.
“The building needs some repairs done and with the continuous rain season we needed to take measures to protect my office furniture and equipment from damage due to exposure to high humidity,” Chavez wrote. “I’m not sure how soon the repairs will be done.”
Although Chavez had seen some flooding in the area before, what she witnessed Monday evening was entirely new for her.
“The water was just flowing in, it happened really fast,” she later told The Star. “It happened in a matter of seconds.”
Although she has a separate office in Overland Park, Chavez wants to find a location near her local spot on South 34th Street to be able to serve her KCK clientele while repairs to the building are underway. Chavez thanked the community for their patience in the meantime and said her office is contacting clients to reschedule meetings. She asked that anyone with a tip for local office spaces to rent reach out to her.
Water pours into a church basement
St. John the Evangelist Church, San Juan Evangelista, off Strong Avenue had nearly a foot of standing water in its basement on Monday evening. The water started pouring in at about 5:30 p.m. and staff stuck around until about 11 p.m. to hose and clear the basement.
The church put new flooring into its basement less than a year ago, said Sherry Johnson, a longtime volunteer who helped with the cleanup. She said the church has suffered flood damage a few times over the course of its lifetime and is particularly vulnerable due to the downward slant it sits on.
Johnson said the local government needs to step in and get a handle on the flooding situation. And although the church was affected, ongoing issues are also a disservice to people affected elsewhere in those neighborhoods, she said.
“We need to have something, and I don’t know what that is,” she said.
