Flash flood threats from Tennessee to Florida after devastating Missouri, prompting hundreds of rescues
Slow-moving storms on Sunday are triggering new flood watches from Tennessee to Kentucky after heavy rains caused catastrophic flooding in Missouri that killed a woman and prompted hundreds of water rescues, including more than 160 teenagers at a summer camp.
Flood watches were also extended on Sunday for parts of West Virginia, Virginia and the Carolinas, where flash flooding is possible, some of it significant.
There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across portions of Georgia and the Carolinas, including the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall are the greatest threats from the storms moving through the region.
In addition to the flooding threat, heat advisories have been issued for parts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida on Sunday. Heat indices, or what the temperature feels like with humidity, could climb across the region to 113 degrees, prompting storms and heavy rain.
Sunday's severe weather comes after flash flooding wreaked havoc and turned deadly across Missouri in recent days.
At least 350 people were rescued across three Missouri counties on Friday amid catastrophic flooding and rapidly rising water levels. Authorities warned that many roads remain washed out or are covered by floodwater and are impassable on Saturday.
About 100 rescues were water rescues, and the remaining were of staff and campers from Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County, according to the Pacific Fire Protection District.
All the staff and campers from Camp Taum Sauk were safely evacuated and reunited with family, according to officials.
Campers at the Taum Sauk campsite were alerted early Friday morning to the rising water levels after the area saw more than 12 inches of rain, Kate Moore, the public information officer for Missouri Region C Incident Support Team, told KFVS-12 Heartland News.
The campers, about 168 teens and 60 adults, were airlifted out of the flooded area by National Guard helicopters, Moore said.
Some people remain stranded by the high waters in the area, Moore added. "But they're OK. They're just stranded because the roads are washed away. We have a lot of damage, the trees, buildings, a lot of things have gone and ripped the roads away," she said.
In a separate incident, several campers were rescued at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River, about 85 miles south of St. Louis, after they took shelter on the roof of a building that collapsed, according to the Reynolds County Sheriff's Office. No serious injuries were reported in the incident.
In Crawford County, Missouri, a missing woman, identified as Faith Gregory, was found dead on Saturday about 2 miles downstream from her home in Huzzah Creek, according to the county sheriff's office.
"This is not the outcome that any of us were hoping for," the sheriff's office said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Faith’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss."
The governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to flash flooding.
"Over the past 24 hours, intense storms have created dangerous flash flooding across several regions of Missouri, resulting in multiple swift-water rescues. Activating the State Emergency Operations Plan allows our agencies to move quickly, coordinate resources, and support local response efforts," Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement Friday.
"With additional heavy rain expected through the weekend, the threat is not over. If you're camping, floating, or spending time near rivers and streams, move to higher ground and stay alert of weather conditions," Kehoe said. "Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities."
Officials are warning Missourians not to attempt to drive through floodwaters even if the water appears shallow.
"More than half of flood deaths in Missouri are victims in vehicles. Nighttime severe weather is particularly dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. If you find yourself stranded by floodwaters, immediately call for help and seek higher ground," the governor's office warned Friday.
ABC News' Alexandra Fine, Ivan Pereira and Michelle Simmons contributed to this report.
