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Flooding causes state of emergency in Pulaski County

Scott Harvey
/
KSMU

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain caused flash flooding in the south-central part of the state. Nixon has spoken with emergency responders in Pulaski County and Waynesville, assuring them the region will get help.

A child was killed and several homes and businesses damaged after several inches of rain last night and this morning caused flooding in Waynesville. The Highway Patrol deployed extra troopers, a rescue helicopter and other assets to help emergency responders. Nixon's executive order also activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, allowing state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions on emergency services.

Meantime, the National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Fuchs says an unstable weather pattern is expected to continue for at least the next week or so, potentially causing more rivers and creeks to rise above their banks.

Much of southern Missouri is under flood or flash flood watches or warnings. Even larger rivers could spike, including the Missouri. Fuchs says the Missouri River could rise as much as 15 feet in parts of central and eastern Missouri, though because it is currently low, it isn't expected to rise above flood stage.

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