If you’re here, you know all about the severe weather we’ve been suffering through. All along the Arkansas river and throughout our various lakes, flooding is impacting local travel, homes, and recreation. Lakes and rivers are breaking flood records that they set 20 or more years ago, and rainfall records for the month of May are being broken all over the Midwest. Take a look at these 10 impactful photos of what may be Kansas’ worst flood in decades.
Thanks to the dedicated photographers of the Kansas Nature Lovers Facebook group and various reservoir organizations, we’ve got lots to show you.
If you’ve been in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or anywhere along the Arkansas River recently, then you know just how much rain we’ve all been getting. In Kansas City and likely a few other areas of Kansas, they’ve even set a new record for rainfall in the month of May. All of that in a short time is really taking a toll on things. It’s rising every lake and river we have, especially the Arkansas River.
Jennifer Lynn Photography Facebook
These storms, even though they produce tornadoes like the recent one that ran through Lawrence and made its way to Kansas City, the floods are affecting more and more as reservoirs have to release their waters into the river for safety. The flood state for the Arkansas River is 16.5 feet, and as of Saturday the 25th, it hit 19.7 feet.
Mulvane Fire Rescue Facebook Photo of Mulvane roads flooded.
The rainfall that’s been going on this month has been a little extreme, even for Kansas. We’ve had floods in the past, but it’s been a long time since something this strong came through the Midwest.
St Brigid Of Oz Photography Photo of a Miami County road flooded.
Milford Lake (pictured) also found its own flooding, rising to almost meet the flood record set in 1993.
Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau Face
Milford Lake being our largest body of water has filled enough that buildings are submerged, trees only peeking out from the water.
Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook
The gates at El Dorado (pictured) were releasing 4,000 cubic feet of water per second when they opened up on Saturday the 25th.
Mindy Simmons/Kansas Nature Lovers Facebook Group
Water is being released from every lake it can be, including El Dorado, Perry (pictured), Cheney, Fall River, Toronto, and Elk City reservoirs.
Perry Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook
When water is released from the reservoirs to keep from flooding nearby areas and streets, it rushes into the river, and sometimes floods other areas instead.
Mindy Simmons/Kansas Nature Lovers Facebook Group Photo near El Dorado Lake
At Fall River, though we don’t have any photos of the area, they’ve sent out evacuation alerts as of May 24, due to all of the rain they’ve gotten and all of the water that found its way there. Anyone below the dam wasn’t safe, because there was no way to know what exactly the flood may cover when it hit the river.
Pomona Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook Photo showing a Pomona Lake area flooded.
Remember though it’s only temporary, and like any other disaster in Kansas, we always come together as a community and help each other out as friends and fellow Kansas should. Stay safe, heed the warnings given to you, and don’t even attempt to cross the water in your vehicles or on foot.
K-State Research/Flickr
You can also keep an eye on estimated flood levels in certain areas with this handy website that automatically updates when new levels are recorded.
Jennifer Lynn Photography Facebook
Mulvane Fire Rescue Facebook
Photo of Mulvane roads flooded.
St Brigid Of Oz Photography
Photo of a Miami County road flooded.
Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau Face
Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook
Mindy Simmons/Kansas Nature Lovers Facebook Group
Perry Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook
Photo near El Dorado Lake
Pomona Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facebook
Photo showing a Pomona Lake area flooded.
K-State Research/Flickr
Once things have finally settled down, we can’t wait to see our waterfalls with a little more oomph than we’re used to seeing.
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