As areas of Southwest Missouri impacted by flooding Tuesday, including Branson and Cassville, begin to assess damage, more rain is expected. A flood warning is in effect until 5 pm in Barry, Christian, Dade, Douglas, Greene, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Newton, McDonald, Stone, Taney, Webster and Wright Counties.
The City of Cassville, parts of Branson, Reeds Spring and Roaring River State Park were impacted by flash flooding Tuesday, and there were several water rescues.
Most roads in Cassville are now passable, and the creeks are back within their banks after floodwaters inundated the town and nearby Roaring River State Park Tuesday. That’s according to the Barry County Sheriff’s Department, which advises caution when travelling. It says some roads are washed out, and some low-water crossings may have sustained damage. The department says road crews will work as fast as possible to make repairs.
Branson is back to business as usual after area creeks rose from their banks Tuesday, according to the city’s economic development director and spokesman Garrett Anderson.
"Today all of that has receded, and we're back to normal. I believe there's still a few places we're still cautious about where there's low-water crossings because we are anticipating a little more rain today but nothing in the volumes that we saw yesterday," he said.
He says city crews are inspecting roads that were impacted and making any needed repairs. Stockstill Park, which was covered by floodwaters from Roark Creek, is expected to be closed for several weeks while repairs are made.
A decision by the US Army Corps of Engineers is expected sometime today as to how much water will be released out of Table Rock Dam, which will impact the level of Lake Taneycomo.
The National Weather Service says excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, country roads and farmland along the banks of creeks and streams today. It warns there are hundreds of low water crossings in the Ozarks' hilly terrain that are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Don't try to drive across flooded roads. Find alternate routes. The NWS says it only takes a few inches of swiftly flowing water to carry vehicles away.
One rescue Tuesday involved a 3o-year-old woman who had driven into water covering Animal Safari Rd. outside Branson and whose vehicle was swept into Fall Creek. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop D marine operations troopers along with the Western Taney County Fire Department, Branson Fire Department and Taney County Ambulance worked together to rescue the woman by positioning themselves in the rushing water about 75 feet from shore.
