Missouri begins recovery after deadly record flooding | JQJO

MISSOURI — Southeast Missouri is assessing damage and beginning recovery efforts after catastrophic flash flooding between July 9 and 10, 2026, caused by a series of slow-moving thunderstorms that stalled over the region and produced 6 to 12.5 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. The extreme rainfall triggered a 1-in-1,000-year flood event across Crawford, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, and Wayne counties, overwhelming local waterways and causing rivers and creeks to rise with alarming speed. The Black River experienced record-breaking crests, rising to more than 28 feet near Annapolis, where the swollen waterway inundated campgrounds, homes, and businesses and trapped residents before they could evacuate, forcing emergency responders to carry out rescue operations.

MISSOURI — Local officials reported that entire sections of public roads and bridges were washed away, leaving some communities temporarily isolated as emergency crews and road departments began the difficult process of mapping damage and restoring access. First responders and volunteers rescued more than 350 people from flooded homes, vehicles, and low-lying areas as the waters rose. The flooding claimed the life of 23-year-old Faith Gregory of Davisville, whose home was swept off its foundation by rapidly rising water from Huzzah Creek on July 10. After an intensive search by authorities and community members, her body was found in the creek about 1.8 miles downstream, and the Crawford County undersheriff said no other individuals are unaccounted for in the county.