Flooding in southeastern Missouri leaves campers and staff trapped after roads are cut off by floodwaters, prompting helicopter evacuations. Multiple outlets report that heavy rain—about 6 to 12 inches—falls over the region, triggering historic flooding and flash flood warnings. At Camp Taum Sauk in Lesterville, more than 200 children and staff are airlifted to safety when nearby roads are washed out and additional rain is forecast. The evacuations are carried out by U.S. Army National Guard crews using Black Hawk helicopters. Rescuers move the evacuated children to a nearby elementary school, where they are reunited with families.
In addition to the camp evacuation, several reports say about 20 people are rescued from a nearby campground after a building collapses during the flooding. Reports also note at least one death in connection with the broader flooding across Missouri. The weather situation is described as part of a wider risk of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding affecting additional states as storms move south.
