Southeast Missouri Faces Severe Flooding and Ongoing Rescues

WHO:

The Guardian - The army national guard used Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate more than 200 children and staff from Camp Taum Sauk.

The Guardian - Sgt Eddie Young of the state’s highway patrol reported that three people were rescued from trees on the Black River in Reynolds County.

NY Post - Governor Mike Kehoe described the rainfall as a 1-in-1,000-year event.

FOX Weather - An official at a regional emergency dispatch center in Ellisville, Missouri, reported that campers needed rescue at multiple campgrounds in Reynolds and Iron counties.

FOX Weather - The Fenton Fire Protection District reported that state taskforce rescue crews saved 40 people, including children, stranded at the Black River Lodge in Lesterville.

FOX Weather - Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe issued a State of Emergency.

FOX Weather - Specialized swift water rescue teams from across Missouri are involved in rescue operations.

FOX Weather - Task Force 3, Task Force 5, and Missouri Task Force 1 are conducting rescue operations.

WHAT:

FOX Weather - The Black River is expected to crest at more than 28 feet near Annapolis in southeastern Missouri, which would be a record for the waterway.

CBS News - Hundreds of people were rescued from floodwaters, trees, rooftops, and stranded vehicles, according to Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.

FOX Weather - The Missouri Regent C Incident Command reported that more than 351 rescues were performed as of 9:45 p.m. on Friday.

The Guardian - A woman in Crawford County was reported missing after a house was swept from its foundation by flooding.

The Guardian - Two rescue boats capsized in the flooding in Reynolds County, but emergency personnel safely recovered the responders.

FOX Weather - The Black River broke a record, cresting at over 28 feet.

CBS News - Hundreds of people were rescued amid historic flash flooding in Missouri.

CBS News - More than 200 people at Camp Taum Sauk in Missouri were rescued after 6 to 12 inches of rain fell along the Taum Sauk Reservoir.

FOX Weather - Rain totals reached as high as 12.25 inches in some areas of Iron and Reynolds counties.

FOX Weather - The FOX Forecast Center indicated that a flash flood threat remains in effect for much of southern Missouri on both Saturday and Sunday, with additional rainfall expected.

FOX Weather - A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk is in place through Saturday across portions of southeast Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

FOX Weather - Rainfall totals of 2-3 inches are expected through Sunday from southern Illinois into Kentucky and central Tennessee.

FOX Weather - A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat is expected to shift east into eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and parts of southern Virginia on Sunday.

FOX Weather - More than 351 rescues were performed as of 9:45 p.m. on Friday.

FOX Weather - Of those rescues, 200 children from Camp Taum Sauk were relocated to St. Louis.

NY Post - A series of thunderstorms dumped between 6 and 12 inches of rain across southeast Missouri overnight into Friday morning.

FOX Weather - The Black River rose to fill homes, forcing campers in nearby campgrounds to evacuate in the middle of the night and seek higher ground.

FOX Weather - The FOX Forecast Center indicated that a flash flood threat remains in effect for much of southern Missouri on both Saturday and Sunday.

CBS News - More than 20 million people in at least 14 states from Colorado to Pennsylvania are under flood watches through Saturday.

FOX Weather - Over 40 people, including children, were rescued from the Black River Lodge in Lesterville.

FOX Weather - Portions of southeastern Missouri received more than a foot of rain in less than 12 hours.

FOX Weather - The Black River broke a record, cresting at over 28 feet.

FOX Weather - Multiple campgrounds, including Meramec State Park and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, were closed for the weekend due to flooding.

WHERE:

The Guardian - The missing woman was in Crawford County, located about 71 miles (114 km) south-west of St. Louis.

FOX Weather - Specialized swift water rescue teams from across Missouri have deployed to assist communities in Crawford, Reynolds, and Iron counties following the catastrophic flash flooding.

CBS News - More than 20 million people in at least 14 states from Colorado to Pennsylvania are under flood watches through Saturday.

FOX Weather - Photos and videos from Reynolds County showed the flooding impact on local communities.

FOX Weather - The flooding is occurring in southeastern Missouri, specifically in Reynolds, Crawford, and Iron counties.

FOX Weather - The Black River Lodge is located in Lesterville, Missouri.

WHEN:

FOX Weather - A Flash Flood Emergency was issued across Iron and Reynolds counties in Missouri on Friday.

FOX Weather - More rain is expected over the weekend.

FOX Weather - The flash flooding occurred on a Friday.

FOX Weather - A flash flood threat is expected to remain in effect for much of southern Missouri on both Saturday and Sunday.

WHY:

FOX Weather - Governor Mike Kehoe activated the state's Emergency Operations Plan to assist with the ongoing flood response and in anticipation of more potential flooding through the weekend as more rain is expected.

The Guardian - The National Weather Service warned that considerable flood impacts would be likely if southeastern Missouri experienced more heavy rains overnight into Saturday morning.

FOX Weather - Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe activated the state's Emergency Operations Plan to assist with the ongoing flood response and in anticipation of more potential flooding through the weekend.

NY Post - Governor Mike Kehoe is describing the rainfall as a historic event due to its unprecedented nature.

FOX Weather - Heavy rainfall caused rivers and creeks to surpass their banks, leading to flash flooding.

HOW:

FOX Weather - Specialized swift water rescue teams from across Missouri have deployed to assist communities in Crawford, Reynolds, and Iron counties following the catastrophic flash flooding.

The Guardian - Emergency crews were thanked by the camp community for their help in keeping campers safe during the flooding.

FOX Weather - Rounds of thunderstorms will repeatedly move over cities like St. Louis and Nashville, which could see rain totals between 3-5 inches.

FOX Weather - Campers at multiple campgrounds in Reynolds and Iron counties were reported to have climbed trees to escape rising floodwaters.

FOX Weather - Campers at multiple campgrounds in Reynolds and Iron counties needed rescue, with some climbing trees to escape rising floodwaters.

FOX Weather - State taskforce rescue crews were deployed to assist with ongoing flood response and rescues.

(UPDATED July 12, 2026 00:12 UTC)

The Black River is set to crest at over 28 feet near Annapolis in southeastern Missouri, marking a record for the waterway. In response to the severe flooding, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has activated the state's Emergency Operations Plan, and as of Friday night, more than 351 rescues have been performed, with hundreds of people saved from floodwaters and stranded vehicles. Specialized swift water rescue teams from across the state have been deployed to assist communities in Crawford, Reynolds, and Iron counties as they face the ongoing crisis.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 22:13 UTC)

In a dramatic rescue operation, the army national guard used Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate over 200 children and staff from Camp Taum Sauk amid severe flooding in southeastern Missouri. Meanwhile, a woman has been reported missing in Crawford County after her house was swept from its foundation, and emergency crews rescued three people from trees on the Black River in Reynolds County, where two rescue boats capsized but responders were safely recovered. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the potential for considerable flood impacts if heavy rains continue overnight into Saturday morning, prompting gratitude from the camp community for the emergency personnel's efforts to keep campers safe.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 18:11 UTC)

Historic flash flooding in Missouri has led to the rescue of hundreds of people, with more than 200 individuals saved from Camp Taum Sauk after 6 to 12 inches of rain fell in the area. The Black River has also set a record, cresting at over 28 feet, prompting specialized swift water rescue teams from across the state to assist communities in Crawford, Reynolds, and Iron counties. These teams are working tirelessly to help those affected by the devastating conditions.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 16:14 UTC)

Heavy rainfall has caused totals to reach as high as 12.25 inches in some areas of Iron and Reynolds counties, prompting a flash flood threat that remains in effect for much of southern Missouri this weekend. The FOX Forecast Center warns that a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk is in place through Saturday across portions of southeast Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, with additional rainfall expected. As thunderstorms continue to move over cities like St. Louis and Nashville, these areas could see rain totals between 3 to 5 inches, with a Level 2 flood threat shifting east into eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and parts of southern Virginia on Sunday.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 13:21 UTC)

A Flash Flood Emergency was declared across Iron and Reynolds counties in Missouri on Friday, prompting significant rescue efforts. As of the evening, more than 351 rescues had been performed, including the relocation of 200 children from Camp Taum Sauk to St. Louis. In response to the severe flooding and the possibility of more rain over the weekend, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe activated the state's Emergency Operations Plan to aid in the ongoing crisis.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 06:38 UTC)

A series of thunderstorms has unleashed between 6 and 12 inches of rain across southeast Missouri, prompting Governor Mike Kehoe to label the rainfall as a historic, 1-in-1,000-year event. As a result, more than 20 million people in at least 14 states, stretching from Colorado to Pennsylvania, are currently under flood watches that will remain in effect through Saturday. This unprecedented weather event has raised significant concerns for communities in the affected areas.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 05:51 UTC)

In southern Missouri, officials at a regional emergency dispatch center in Ellisville reported that campers needed rescue from multiple campgrounds in Reynolds and Iron counties due to rising floodwaters. The Black River has overflowed, filling homes and forcing campers to evacuate in the middle of the night, with many seeking higher ground, while the FOX Forecast Center warns that a flash flood threat will continue through the weekend. Photos and videos from Reynolds County are showing the significant impact of the flooding on local communities, with some campers even climbing trees to escape the rising waters.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 01:24 UTC)

Rescue crews from the state taskforce successfully saved 40 people, including children, who were stranded at the Black River Lodge in Lesterville. Meanwhile, over 20 million people across at least 14 states, from Colorado to Pennsylvania, are currently under flood watches that will remain in effect through Saturday, with more rain expected over the weekend. Campers at various campgrounds in Reynolds and Iron counties have also needed rescue, with some resorting to climbing trees to escape the rising floodwaters.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 00:16 UTC)

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has declared a State of Emergency as specialized swift water rescue teams, including Task Force 3, Task Force 5, and Missouri Task Force 1, are actively conducting rescue operations in southeastern Missouri. Over 40 individuals, including children, were rescued from the Black River Lodge in Lesterville, where the river has crested at over 28 feet following more than a foot of rain in less than 12 hours. Due to the severe flooding, multiple campgrounds, including Meramec State Park and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, will remain closed for the weekend, and a flash flood threat is expected to persist through Saturday and Sunday.