Flash Flooding in Missouri, June 16 to 17, 2000

Thunderstorms produced widespread heavy rainfall over southwest and south central Missouri.By far, the most serious flooding occurred in Barry County in southwest Missouri. Some areas in central and southern portions of the county received 6 to 10 inches of rainfall late on the 16th of June and during the early morning hours of the 17th. Hourly rainfall rates were up to 3 inches per hour. The city of Cassville receive widespread severe flooding along Flat Creek. Fifty to sixty people along the creek were forced to evacuate from two mobile home parks, a motel, and 10 houses. During the evacuation, some people were wading in water that was chest high. At Roaring River State Park which is located in the southern portion of the county, 187 campsites were evacuated. At least 26 mobile homes were seriously damaged or destroyed in Cassville. One mobile home had completely washed away. Numerous businesses including a motel and and lumber yard were damaged. Dozens of concrete blocks from the lumber yard were carried a quarter of a mile to the town's baseball field. The water seriously damaged a number of roads and parking lots. A number of gas and propane tanks were displaced and found floating in the creek. In neighboring McDonald County, county officials urged voluntary evacuations of low lying campgrounds. No residential areas were threatened by high water. Elsewhere, across the area, widespread 3 to 4 inches of rain flooded and temporarily closed a number of roads and highways.