Flash flooding poses danger to area motorists

The recent rains have covered city streets and county roads, rivers around the state are nearing or are at flood stage. Reports of impassable roads in Vernon County are usual and Tuesday night was no exception. According to reports given the National Weather Service by several local sources. Route BB was closed south of Stockade; Pole Bottom Road, 3 miles south of Horton, was impassable; a bridge was washed out 1 mile south of Garland, Kan.; U.S. Highway 71, north of Nevada, had water covering parts of the roadway; the intersection of Third Street and U.S. Highway 69 in Fort Scott was impassable and several streets in Nevada were closed due to flooding at various points during the night and early morning hours. Waters had receded by mid-morning, but there's more wet weather in store for the area.

The forecast is calling for more rain and more roads are certain to become impassable due to flash flooding. The Osage, Marmaton and Little Osage rivers are all at or above the flood stage and are expected remain there for some time, according to the National Weather Service.

Vernon County Ambulance Director James McKenzie has some advice for anyone coming upon water covering the road, "Don't drown, turn around."

"I'm afraid people tune that out," McKenzie said. "It's good advice though. It's simple -- don't go into the water. Take the time and go around. People don't realize how fast the water is moving and how strong that pushes against a vehicle."

Driving into water covering roads endangers many people, not just the driver of the car.

"It's not just about you," McKenzie said. "It's those with you and those that come to get you out. Don't put people in peril. It's not worth it. Around here the flooding is temporary, it usually goes down in an hour or so. It comes up fast but it goes down fast as well."

If you do get caught up in the water, don't panic, which is easy advice to give, but harder to practice.

"There are some times when you are driving along a road you've been over hundreds of times before and before you know it you're coming over a hill and it (the flooded area) is there," McKenzie said.

"If you do get caught up and the water isn't rising up over the car, that's probably the safest place. If you get out and get swept away you can get caught up in a fence row, that's where a lot of victims are found drowned. Call dispatch and give them as much information as possible and let us do our job."

McKenzie also said people on the side, waiting for their family and friends to be rescued needed to be patient.

"Don't try to do self-rescues," McKenzie said. "Don't start wading out into the water after someone. You start out with one victim and end up with three."

McKenzie noted that it takes longer to rescue someone than Hollywood implies. In the movies, all the set-up is done before the cameras roll. In reality, McKenzie said. "It takes time to set it up so we can safely reach someone. Give us the time and let us do our job, that's what we're here for."