Kansas City Fire Department Conducts Multiple Water Rescues Due to Flash Flooding

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Fire Department conducted a number of water rescues Thursday morning due to flash flooding throughout the metropolis.

According to responders, at least seven people were in a homeless camp near MLK and Hardesty when the water suddenly started coming in. KCFD said three people needed to be rescued and so far they have recovered two, but one is still missing.

Reports from those pulled out of the water and from firefighters are conflicting as to the fate of this third person. Firefighters say the third person was pulled out of the water at a different time and is fine.

But FOX4 spoke to some of the people who were pulled from the water earlier. They said they are still looking for that person. So there is at least one person whose status has yet to be determined.

Responders said the flooding started in some of these typical hot spots, when we have heavy rains, and the water started overflowing onto the roads and then the group was washed away.

Typically, the water that flows along the Blue River is about 7 to 10 feet deep. Kansas City Fire Department said the depth reached 22 feet, and it happened very, very quickly.

Kansas City firefighters left swimmers in the water for 30 minutes to an hour while they searched.

Another rescue operation took place at Brush Creek, at the corner of MLK Boulevard and Oak. The man who was in the creek has now been rescued.

The man told FOX4 he was on land when the waters began to engulf the land. He said the current in the creek was extremely difficult to swim through.

He was rescued by KCFD and was able to escape without injuries.

This is a developing story, FOX4 will update this story as updates become available.