Thursday 4 August 2022 07:25 PM America's floodgates open: Three 1,000-year rains in a week have left at least ... trends now
America's floodgates broke opened last week after three once in a thousand year rain storms left 38 people dead across the midwestern United States.
The massive flooding began on July 25, when record-breaking rainfall drenched St. Louis, Missouri trapping cars in more than 10 inches of flood water, closing roads and causing at least one death.
Just a few days later, on July 28, rural parts of eastern Kentucky were flooded after the National Weather Service received reports of up to 14 inches of rainfall.
At least 37 people died in the catastrophic storm as of Monday, as dozens were still reported missing after bridges collapsed and houses were torn from their foundations.
And as residents in Illinois were still reeling from the storm last Monday, which caused an estimated $10 million in damages and economic impact in East St. Louis, the southern part of the state was drenched by eight to 12 inches of rainfall in just 12 hours from Monday night into Tuesday morning.
All three incidents are considered once in 1,000 year rain events because the amount of rain that fell during such a short amount of time has only a 0.1 percent chance of happening in any given year.
But experts now warn that these devastating storms may become even more common as the Earth's average temperature continues to increase.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: Brian Kreitner, looked down at broken pieces of glass in the flood water after a storm dumped more than 10 inches of rainfall on the city last week
EAST ST LOUIS, ILLINOIS: Gateway Pet Guardians used a boat to help pet owners rescue two cats and a dog from their flooded homes. The pets had been trapped since the homeowners were forced out due to the rising flood waters
EASTERN KENTUCKY: An aerial view provided by the Tennessee Army National Guard shows the extent of the devastation in the state after the National Weather Service received reports of up to 14 inches of rainfall
The extreme weather began last week when a 100-year weather record was obliterated in St Louis after more than eight inches of torrential rain drenched the city last Monday night into Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service, 8.81 inches of rain fell on the city from midnight Monday to 9am Tuesday morning after the thunderstorms eased across the area by mid-morning — beating the city's old record of 6.85", which was previously set on August 20th 1915.
Some parts of the city even recorded more than 11 inches of rain, with parts of St Charles County recording 10 inches.
One person died in the powerful storm after he was left stranded in his car and drowned in about eight and a half inches of water.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said Monday that officers were dispatched to the intersection of Rosedale and Enright Avenues just before 10am on July 26, and when they arrived they found a good Samaritan pulling a man from his car.
But the man, who was later identified as 60-year-old Kumsa Heyi was pronounced dead on the scene.
Authorities also reported that several puppies drowned when the water got into a building at Stray Paws Adoptables, a stray dog rescue operation in St Peters, but firefighters were able to rescue other dogs from the building.
The St Louis Fire Department also rescued people from 18 homes in the same general area after floodwaters entered the homes, and said on Twitter than six people and six dogs were rescued by boat.
Fifteen other people declined to leave their homes.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: A man bravely helped two people walk through the flood waters after their car became submerged in the storm last week
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: Santo Albright, of Fenton, tried to run to his car as the heavy rain began
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: According to the National Weather Service, 8.81 inches of rain fell on the city from midnight Monday to 9am Tuesday morning after the thunderstorms eased across the area by mid-morning. Some parts wound up recording more than 11 inches of rain
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: St Louis firefighters helped a group of adults and students off a bus that got stuck in the rising water
Other residents posted alarming videos and photos of submerged cars and flooded basements on social media as the flood levels continued to rise last week.
Images of Forest Park DeBaliviere Metrolink station in St Louis showed the tracks and platforms completely under water - with just half of the information boards and steps still visible.
Interstate 70 east of Mid Rivers Mall Drive was also rendered completely impassable by the flash flooding, and in the St. Louis County town of Brentwood, residents were forced to evacuate when Deer Creek overflowed.
The rising waters also threatened homes in Ladau, one of the wealthiest cities in Missouri, the Associated Press reports, and the flooding became so bad that the iconic Gateway Arch had to close.
The city is now facing another flash flood, with a warning in effect until 11.45am Thursday, covering about half a million people in the communities of Kirkwood and Overland, CNN reports.
Between two to four inches of rain had already fallen in the area Thursday morning, with rain pounding the region at rates of one to three inches per hour as wind gusts reached up to 60mph.
Overnight, authorities reported that creeks in the area were once again rising, and had exceeded the levels they were at last week.
The flood waters swamped Covered Bridge RV Park near the Saline Creek, according to FOX 2 News, and rescuers there went door to door Wednesday night to make sure everyone got out safely.
'I came down here around 10.30pm to keep an eye on it because I knew the water was coming up quick, owner Phil Tracy said. 'It was raining hard and might come up quick, and sure enough by 11.30pm it started creeping into the park, and then by 12am, it was in the park pretty bad.
'We went around, knocked on everyone's doors and just let them know what was
