Heavy rain brings flood damage

Water cascades down Buck Run behind Shepherd Team Auto Plaza Thursday morning as a result of several inches of rain during the week. Buck Run has escaped its banks and is now spans about 10 feet across just before crossing under U.S. Highway 69 on the south end of Fort Scott. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)

Residents in Bourbon County may have escaped the threat of tornadoes this past week, but they are now dealing with large amounts of rain.

According to Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers, the part of the county received anywhere from 4-6 inches of rainfall in the past week, with the most significant rains falling in the southern portion of the county. Jeffers said areas around Bronson, Uniontown, and Devon received the least amount of rainfall, 2.5 inches, 3 inches, and 3.25 inches respectively. Fort Scott received between 4 and 5 inches, and Garland received the most rainfall totaling about 6.5 inches.

"There was quite a bit of difference in rain amounts, a lot of the [southern] counties got some heavy washouts," Jeffers said about rainfall in Southeast Kansas counties over the last week.

The heavy rainfall has caused several roads in the southern part of the county to be washed out. Jeffers said there has been one low-water bridge near 230th Street and Deer Road has been washed out. The flooding, which Jeffers said is "unfortunately pretty normal" also caused flooding of Third Street, the intersection of South Margrave and East National, and several other intersections in Fort Scott.

"We just want people to be aware to not drive into water that they don't know how deep it is," Jeffers said. "Especially in the south part of the county by Garland ... around Deer Road [and] Eagle Road there are a lot of real soft areas."

The National Weather Service's campaign Turn Around Don't Drown has seemed to work as Bourbon County Undersheriff Bill Martin said he is unaware of any reports of vehicles begin stuck in high waters or being washed off the road.

With another inch of rain expected Saturday and Sunday, the Little Osage River and the Marmaton River are anticipated to exceed the flood stage. Jeffers said when the Little Osage Creek floods, the water will spill over into a nearby field, which the Marmaton will spill over into Mill Creek and is not expected to damage any of the nearby buildings.

Jeffers said he has recorded winds of 10-20 mph in Bourbon County while a storm spotter in Frontenac reported 60 mph winds. Jeffers said Bourbon County has been fortunate to receive mostly rain and no damaging winds or tornadoes.

"We've been extremely fortunate that the heaviest weather has been missing us ... especially when it has been forecast right on us," he said. "We've been fortunate with not as much wind as had been forecast, no tornadoes ... just a lot of rain."