After flash flooding, what's next for Wichita's weather? Plus how much rain fell
It was a busy day Tuesday for first responders in Wichita and Sedgwick County after torrential rainwater flooded streets, stalled cars and seeped into basements.
The National Weather Service Wichita office is still gathering rainfall reports but had some preliminary amounts Tuesday night. The agency measured 2.94 inches of rainfall at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The greatest amount in its 26-county coverage area was 6.21 inches at Beech Factory Airport in east Wichita, NWS meteorologist James Cuellar said.
'It's not often we get into a flash flood emergency. It is very rare, but it means that we have a lot of roadways that are flooding. A lot of them will have a current to them, and we don't want people driving,' Sedgwick County Emergency Management Director Julie Stimson said at a news conference Tuesday evening. 'Currently, the rain has stopped in Sedgwick County, and the waters are quickly receding. The drainage systems are working the way we want them to work but there are areas that have experienced significant flooding.'
'It was just a riptide': Wichita man videotapes rescue from stalled car during flood
Stimson reminded drivers to not go around barricades or emergency vehicles blocking flooded streets.
Gov. Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency 'due to heavy rainfall impacting portions of the state with the potential of flooding and flash flooding,' a state news release said.
The declaration allows local governments to use state assistance and resources during the flooding. Sedgwick County also declared a state of local disaster emergency.
From midnight to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received 119 calls for water rescue, with 95 of them between noon and 4 p.m., 911 director Elora Forshee said.
Multiple roads that had closed earlier have been reopened. Some county roads that remain closed include Meridian from 109th to 117th, Seneca between 69th and 77th streets north and 127th Street east between 29th and 37th, Sedgwick County Director Public Works and County Engineer Lynn Packer said.
Township roads that remain closed include 117th Street between Meridian and Seneca, Seneca between 125th and 117th streets north and 109th between Meridian and West streets, Packer added.
The Kansas Department of Transportation is also warning drivers traveling on U.S. 54 that flooding has affected multiple ramps eastbound and westbound.
'While no ramps are currently closed due to floodwater overtaking the ramps, conditions can change rapidly,' a KDOT news release said. 'Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time, use alternate routes when possible.'
No rain is expected Wednesday, a detailed NWS forecast shows. The day should be sunny with a high of 76 degrees and a low of 61.
Off-and-on chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected Thursday into the weekend, NWS meteorologist William Iwasko said. But the heaviest rain fell Tuesday.
The Red Cross will be in Wichita to assist anyone that was affected or displaced by the floods. Shelters are set up at Griffith Elementary at 1802 S. Bluff. Residents can call (800) 733-2767 to reach the Red Cross to see what resources are available.
Wichita man videotapes rescue from stalled car during flood
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