9 dead in bad weather that hit the center of the United States, with more floods planned

May 25, 2019, 3:40 UTC

By Associated press

OKLAHOMA CITY – The bodies of a man and a woman were found Friday in a submerged vehicle near the Mississippi, Missouri, killing nine people after the storms that ravaged the central United States this week and threaten to cause severe flooding during the weekend.

John Reinhardt, 20, and Caitlin Frangel, 19, of Hazelwood, Missouri, reportedly went missing on May 15. Their bodies were found around 4 am on a flooded rural road that runs along the river at Portage Des Sioux, about 40 miles north of Saint Louis.

The Missouri Highway patrol soldier, Dallas Thompson, said that an autopsy had determined that they had both drowned.

"We think that they went into the dark, not knowing that the roadway was flooded and they were unable to get out," Thompson said.

Heavy rains in recent weeks have caused severe flooding in several states. Flooding along the Arkansas River will threaten communities in Tulsa in western Arkansas for at least the holiday weekend, officials said Friday, adding that the water released from A dam in Oklahoma combined with additional rainfall.

In order to control the floods in Tulsa, the US Army Corps of Engineers began Friday to increase the amount of water discharged into the river by the Keystone Dam northwest of the city. about 400,000 inhabitants.

"The dam does what it is supposed to do. It has kept the flood at a reasonable level, "said US Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, following an aerial tour of the region.

The river at Tulsa was just above 22 feet on Friday, four feet above the flood level, and should stay at this level until Tuesday. Riverside residents were asked to leave their homes and at least one oil refinery suspended operations.

"The most disturbing thing our first responders have heard in the last 24 hours is the reports that parents would have let their children play in the river," said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. "If you are a parent who lets your child play in this river now, you should be ashamed of yourself."

Arkansas officials were preparing for a record flood as water descended downstream.

Governor Asa Hutchinson said the state of emergency Friday to lift the barriers that public agencies can do to help flooded areas along the Arkansas River. The proclamation came after ordering the National Guard to set up rescue teams on the high seas in the western part of the state on Saturday, and the Corps of Engineers warned residents to stay by the river all along the coast. Memorial Day weekend.

"We hope people are now going to safer areas," said Aric Mitchell of the Fort Smith Police Department in Arkansas.

The Arkansas River is expected to reach 21 meters by Sunday near Fort Smith, the second largest city in the country with nearly 89,000 inhabitants. It is almost 20 feet above flood level and 3 feet above the record of 38.1 feet established in 1945.

"Nearby businesses, residences could be flooded … it will be a disaster," said National Weather Service meteorologist Pete Snyder. "We have never seen such success before. This is a different situation than we have ever seen. "

The concerns of Oklahoma and Arkansas are the result of violent storms that have exacerbated spring floods throughout the Midwest and spawned dozens of tornadoes.

According to Meteorological Meteorologist Matt Mosier, of Norman's Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, it is expected to rain more rain during the weekend from West Texas to the US. ;Illinois.

On Friday, the floodwaters of the Missouri River broke through a dam in Jefferson City and closed some streets around the Capitol, as locals worked to clean up one of the bends, which cut a long road. 3 km through the city earlier this week.

Jefferson City Airport had already been evacuated, but other residents and workers were driving precariously on flooded roads to escape the rising waters. The Capitol Building is located on a cliff on the south side of the river and is not likely to be flooded.

The tornado had also damaged the Missouri seat for the Special Olympics, prompting the organization Friday to cancel its summer games.