July 11, 2026
Flash flooding unleashed by torrential downpours from a wave of thunderstorms struck the Ozark Mountains in rural southeastern Missouri on Friday, trapping hundreds of people in high water along the rain-swollen Black River, officials said.
National Guard teams in Black Hawk helicopters were flying some 200 stranded people to higher ground on Friday afternoon from Camp Taum Sauk in Lesterville, Missouri, about 100 miles (160km) south of St Louis, according to State Highway Patrol Sergeant Eddie Young.
About half of the evacuees from the summer youth camp were children, and the rest were counselors and other staff, Young said.
Separately, rescue teams in boats rescued three people who were stranded elsewhere along the river in Reynolds County late in the day, he said. As of Friday evening, no fatalities had been reported.
