More than 200 children and counselors were airlifted from a Missouri summer camp Friday after intense rainfall washed out nearby roads and left the group surrounded by dangerous floodwaters.
The Missouri National Guard used eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate exactly 202 people from Camp Taum Sauk in Lesterville, according to Governor Mike Kehoe’s office. Approximately 35 Guard crew members participated in the operation, transporting the campers to Arcadia Valley Elementary School, where emergency personnel helped reunite them with their families.
State officials said as much as 12 inches or more of rain fell within several hours across parts of Crawford, Iron, Madison, Reynolds and Wayne counties. In some locations, authorities described the rainfall as a 1-in-1,000-year event, meaning an event of that intensity has an estimated 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year—not that it can happen only once every thousand years.
The campers were not believed to be in immediate danger inside the camp, but damaged and flooded roads prevented them from leaving safely by vehicle. With additional rainfall possible, authorities decided that an aerial evacuation was the safest option.
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Camp Taum Sauk later thanked the emergency crews who helped protect the children and staff.
Elsewhere in the region, approximately 20 people at the Bearcat Getaway campground climbed onto a building to escape rising water. The structure later collapsed under the combined pressure of the people and the floodwater, but emergency personnel rescued those involved. Three other people stranded in trees along the Black River were also brought to safety.
Missouri officials reported more than 200 water rescues throughout the affected region, involving people trapped in homes, vehicles, trees, campgrounds and on rooftops. Missouri Task Force 1 participated in more than 100 rescues and expanded its deployment to 78 personnel.
Two rescue boats reportedly capsized during operations in Reynolds County, although other emergency crews safely recovered the responders. No deaths or major injuries had been confirmed as of the latest official and local reports.
However, authorities were continuing to search for a woman in Crawford County after the house she was inside was swept from its foundation. Search operations were expected to resume Saturday after being suspended overnight because of hazardous conditions.
Governor Kehoe activated the Missouri National Guard and the state’s emergency response system, allowing local and state agencies to coordinate personnel, boats, aircraft and other equipment.
The Black River was expected to crest above 28 feet near Annapolis, potentially reaching a record level. The National Weather Service warned that major flooding was occurring or forecast in the area and urged residents to move toward higher ground rather than attempting to cross flooded roads.
Floodwater can be more dangerous than it appears. According to Missouri officials, approximately six inches of moving water can knock a person down, while about one foot may be sufficient to move many vehicles. Roads can also collapse beneath the surface, making it impossible for drivers to judge the true depth or strength of the current.
The emergency highlights the particular risks facing summer camps and recreational areas near rivers. Children, tourists and visitors may be unfamiliar with local evacuation routes, while cellular reception can be unreliable in rural and mountainous areas. When repeated thunderstorms move over the same location, water levels can rise faster than roads and bridges can safely handle.
The successful Camp Taum Sauk evacuation also demonstrates the importance of acting before conditions become life-threatening. Moving more than 200 people by helicopter required coordination among camp leaders, pilots, emergency managers, schools and families, but it prevented the group from attempting to leave through damaged or flooded roads.
Why It Matters
The flooding affected families, campgrounds, roads and emergency services across several Missouri counties. Although the large camp evacuation ended safely, the incident shows how quickly extreme rainfall can isolate children and visitors in rural recreation areas.
It may also lead camps and local governments to review evacuation routes, weather-alert systems and procedures for contacting families when roads become unusable.
What Comes Next
Search teams will continue looking for the missing Crawford County woman while emergency crews assess damaged roads, homes, campgrounds and public infrastructure.
Authorities are also monitoring river levels and additional storms. Residents and visitors in low-lying areas have been advised to follow official alerts, avoid closed roads and immediately move to higher ground when flooding develops.
Helicopters evacuated more than 200 campers and staff after severe flooding cut off access to Camp Taum Sauk.
More than 200 campers and counselors from Camp Taum Sauk were rescued by helicopter after severe flooding swept through their Missouri campground.
Gov. Mike Kehoe said eight helicopters were deployed to evacuate the children and camp staff after parts of the state were hit with… pic.twitter.com/3V6apndmrJ
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