Kansas City Flooding: Firefighters Rescue 2 From Restaurant

KANSAS CITY, MO — Two people became trapped in Kansas City, Missouri early Thursday by floodwaters that inundated their restaurant and had to be rescued as storms pummeled the area with several inches of rain, closing roads.

Widespread flooding was reported after 4 to 7 inches fell over a few hours starting late Wednesday in east-central Kansas and west-central Missouri, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Bowman said.

Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi urged motorists in a tweet not to drive into high water, saying his department was responding to calls seeking assistance in areas of flash flooding. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Do Not Drive Into High Water https://t.co/kOsO2d0XvE
— Paul Berardi (@KCMOFireChief) July 27, 2017

In south Kansas City, Chris Darby and his business partner had scrambled to their Coach's Bar & Grill early Thursday to check for possible flooding and save paperwork when Indian Creek floodwaters inundated the restaurant, trapping them.

The two sought higher ground on the bar and later on equipment before ultimately being rescued by firefighters — only after Darby says he began sending out goodbye texts to his family.

"It's the most scared I've ever been," Darby said by telephone while awaiting the rescue. "We regret the Fire Department has to risk lives to save us."

In Kansas, a stretch of Interstate 35 was closed Thursday. The Missouri Department of Transportation says stretches of Missouri 2 and 23 in Johnson County and Missouri 79 in Pike County are closed.

Several flood warnings also have been issued for rivers and streams downstream from the deluge.

Spring Valley and Bannister about 30 minutes ago pic.twitter.com/lUKT9rL5Yf
— Paul Berardi (@KCMOFireChief) July 27, 2017

Image via Shutterstock