Runoff swept through Neosho streets Wednesday, prompting a water rescue after a period of heavy rain.
The Neosho National Fish Hatchery reported six inches of rain from late Wednesday morning until it tapered off in the evening. Newton and McDonald counties were both under a flood warning until 11 a.m. today and the National Weather Service notes that the possibility of showers and thunderstorms today could cause more runoff and flooding. Seneca reported three inches of rain and in Pineville there was scarcely any.
From Nevada and Lamar southeast to Springfield and Mount Vernon the NWS had reports from three to six inches of rainfall. The NWS Springfield office broke their daily rainfall record. Through 6 p.m. they received 4.62 inches of rain, which broke the 2.47 inch record set in 1958.
Neosho police and fire responded to a series of six stalled-cars with one turning into a water rescue in an hour-long period Wednesday afternoon. At 1:53 p.m., they were dispatched to Valley and McCord streets; at 2:16 p.m., a call came from Harmony and the Neosho Boulevard; at 2:36 p.m., a car was stranded at Lyon Drive / Highway 59; at 2:45 p.m. they responded to Pineville and South streets; at 2:46 p.m., there was a call from Stratford and Flowerbox Lane and at 2:57 p.m., two vehicles were stranded in the Dollar Tree parking lot near Wal-Mart.
Firefighters pulled a woman and child from their vehicle on West McCord. Water covered the car 20 minutes after their rescue.
At the high school buses were held for 30 minutes due to flooding conditions.
Near Crowder College, Route D, Lyon Drive, was closed at 3 p.m. due to flooding.
The road was closed from Harmony and the Neosho Boulevard to Coler and North Valley streets for about a half hour. At Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts, water crept nearly to the front door and at its highpoint water splashed through the door whenever a semi rolled down Coler. Just off Coler, nearby North Lincoln Street was almost solid water for several intersections. Residents said the flooding was the worst they had seen.
South Layfayette Street from the roundabout to Robinson Avenue was closed as more than a foot of quickly moving water raced across the street.
Driving into water over a roadway is dangerous, warned Adrian Hitchcock, engineer with the Neosho Fire Department, especially in rapidly moving water. Judging the water’s depth is difficult, even if you know the area.
