Category Archives: Flooding

Latest forecast: Plenty of rain for Wichita, but…

Sept. 11, 20084:33 p.m.

….the metropolitan area should be spared worst-case scenarios.

Chance Hayes, warning coordination meteorologist for the local branch of the National Weather Service, said he is forecasting 4 to 5 inches of rain for Wichita by Sunday night. That’s still a lot of rain, but it’s half what some forecasting models were projecting on Wednesday.

Flooded streets and highways will be a concern this weekend because the soil is already saturated, so be alert and cautious when traveling. Floods – particularly flash floods – kill more people each year than any other weather phenomenon.

Why? Because people underestimate the force and power of water, and 60% of all flood deaths result from people trying to cross flooded roads in vehicles…and the water sweeps them away.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Flooding, Hurricanes | Comments Off

A tragic anniversary

Aug. 28, 20085:30 p.m.

It’s been five years since a flash flood swept through Jacob Creek in the Flint Hills, killing six people – including five members of the same family.

KSN will be airing a story about the tragedy on its 10 p.m. newscast tonight, including an interview with Robert Rogers about how he dealt with the devastating loss of his wife, Melissa, and four children: Makenah, Zachary, Nicholas and Alenah.

Al Larsen also died in the flood on that dark night of Aug. 30, 2003, swept away as he checked vehicles stranded in the rising waters for people who needed rescuing.

Six crosses mark the site where the flood struck in Chase County, and I’ve lost count of the number of people who tell me that they look for those crosses every time they drive through that area.

In the interest of full disclosure, I may be mentioned in the story as well since I co-wrote a book with Robert about that nightmarish event, his miraculous survival and the grueling days that followed.

It’s not the first time that members of a family died in a flash flood on Jacob Creek – a mother and her infant daughter were killed in 1886 – but Labor Day weekend of 2003 offered vivid testimony of how suddenly a weather-driven disaster can occur.

As if the folks of Tornado Alley need any reminders.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Flooding | Comments Off

Governor declares drought warnings? In Kansas? This spring???

June 11, 20083:40 p.m.

It’s no practical joke. While parts of Kansas have seen record-setting rainfall, other areas of the state are parched. The U.S. Drought Monitor has far southwest Kansas in “abnormally dry” to “extreme drought” conditions.

The governor’s declaration places drought warnings on Grant, Hamilton, Morton, Stanton and Stevens counties in southwest Kansas. Finney, Greeley, Haskell, Kearney, Meade, Scott, Seward and Wichita counties in western Kansas have been placed under drought watches.

The declaration comes even as much of the rest of the state grapples with saturated soils and reservoirs so full they’re flooding camp sites. Toronto, Fall River and Elk City state parks all have numerous camp sites under water, and Cheney, El Dorado and Kanopolis remain above conservation pool.

Wichita logged 13.14 inches of rain last month, nearly two inches above the previous record. The city remains more than 8 inches above normal for this time of year.

“That’s the way it works,” state parks director Jerry Hover said from Pratt. “Some parts of the state got way too much” rain, while others have been left out almost completely.

“If we could pump some of the excess water out west, everything would work out just right,” he said.

Alas, it doesn’t work that way.

See Thursday’s Eagle for more.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Flooding, Rain | Comments (1)

In the days before the Big Ditch……

April 22, 20081:33 p.m.

…….the Little Arkansas River left its banks in 1944, flooding 2,000 homes in Wichita on April 22-24. The Walnut River flooded as well, covering much of Winfield.

By Stan Finger | Filed under Flooding | Comments (1)