Flash flooding inundates Westport, traps drivers around the Kansas City area Thursday
Flash flooding across the Kansas City area Thursday left portions of Westport inundated and trapped drivers who ventured into high water.
As the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings across parts of Johnson, Wyandotte and Jackson counties, officials urged drivers to exercise caution and not try to drive over high water.
Still, police responded to many calls for drivers in trouble. Across the Kansas City area, reports came in of water rescues, flooded roadways and manholes covers coming off streets. Cass, Clay and Platte counties were also included in the flash flood warnings.
Among the most striking scenes to come out of the day’s flooding was at Westport Road and Mill Street, where a car became stuck in the intersection. About 2:30 p.m. the Kansas City Police Department posted a photo on Twitter showing the area flooded. Police said first responders were called to help the motorist and then barricaded the roads.
Similar incidents, police said, were found at Chouteau Trafficway and Belmont Boulevard, West 42nd Terrace and Wornall Road, 31st Street and Roanoake Road, 30th Street and Southwest Boulevard and at Rockhill and Holmes roads.
In Kansas City, Kansas, the Fire Department rescued four people from a submerged vehicle at Southwest Boulevard and 31st Street around 2:30 p.m.
Flooding interfered with traffic around the downtown loop. The Missouri Department of Transportation reported high water on Interstate 70 near Broadway Boulevard and on the Northbound ramp to Interstate 35 at Southwest Trafficway. Officials warned people to stay away.
Around 3 p.m. a truck drove off the roadway on the Southwest Trafficway ramp for I-35, possibly due to high water, according to MoDOT.
Water covering the road was reported at Lee’s Summit and Phelps roads and at Gardner Avenue and Chouteau Trafficway in Kansas City. Police also reported manhole covers coming off at 31st Street and Baltimore Avenue and 75th Street and Troost Avenue.
Other cities in the area closed streets as water levels rose.
The Raymore Police Department closed off multiple roads from 2 p.m. until just before 4 p.m. when water levels rose too high to safely drive through.
At 137th Street and North Home in Clay County, water rose to 1.5 feet over the road within 30 minutes, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
