Multiple people rescued from high water, vehicles after flash floods in Kansas City
Several water rescues took place overnight after flooding from heavy rainfall impacted drivers in Kansas City, a fire department spokesman said.
The Kansas City Fire Department responded to 10 water rescues since 2:46 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. Each of the rescues involved vehicles that were stuck in high water at multiple locations throughout the city.
Two cars that were first reported as motor vehicle accidents ended up being water rescues.
In a news release, Nolan said every vehicle occupant was able to get out safely.
While no injures have yet been reported as a result of the flooding, Nolan urged drivers to use caution during heavy rain.
Drivers should never drive into high water. It only takes a few inches of moving water to sweep a vehicle downstream, Nolan said in an email.
Vehicles may also stall, and it is easy to become stranded if water level is higher than the vehicle’s tailpipe.
Nolan also urged people not to walk in high water. Sewer covers can become dislodged and falling into one could be deadly, Nolan said.
“If you encounter high water on the roadway, find an alternate route,” Nolan said.
Heavy rain pummels KC
A flash flood warning was in effect until 8:30 a.m. for eastern Johnson, northeastern Miami, and east-central Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and northeastern Cass, eastern Clay, Jackson, and southwestern Ray counties in Missouri.
Heavy rain has been a consistent event in Kansas City over the past week.
Parks in Johnson County were forced to close July 17 due to floods covering sidewalks and making getting around difficult. Additionally, some cities in the county reported closures of municipal parks and trails last week.
On Monday morning, flash floods led to a water rescue at a trail in south Overland Park, where one woman died. The woman, identified as 62-year-old Anupama Vaidya, had been walking on a trail at Negro Creek when flash flood waters swept her away, officials said.
Crews from Wyandotte County Public Works responded to record flooding, damage and obstructions as a result of overnight storms July 17 that brought between 7 and 11 inches of rain to Kansas City, Kansas.
Floods resulted in washed-out streets, erosion, downed trees, hillside slides and road obstructions.
Flooding in some areas last week was the worst seen since 1993, officials said.
Previous reporting by Maddie Carr and Robert A. Cronkleton contributed.
This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 8:57 AM.
