St. Louis faced an unprecedented deluge on Election Day as flash floods wreaked havoc across the region, leading to the tragic loss of at least one life and creating barriers for voters attempting to reach polling places. The torrential rainfall, breaking the November record, caused road and polling place closures, with streets swiftly transforming into rivers throughout the area. FOX Weather reported the severe weather's impact on Election Day activities, as residents contended with the challenges of both navigating the floods and fulfilling their civic duty.
In addition to the weather's interference with an essential democratic process, authorities were to quickly respond to emergent situations. Among the roads affected, severe flooding shut down parts of Interstate 55 near Bayless Avenue, where first responders worked tenaciously to rescue stranded motorists. Disrupted traffic also plagued Interstate 44, as mentioned by FOX 2 Now, which covered the extensiveness of the road closures in real-time as events unfolded.
The casualty of the floods was an unidentified woman found deceased in her vehicle by the St. Louis County Police after the waters began to recede. "Officers have been in the area of Bayless Avenue and I-55 all morning due to flooding. As the waters receded, a business owner in the area observed an SUV submerged and advised officers," said St. Louis County Police spokesperson Mary Schmitt. "When access to the vehicle could be obtained, Lemay Fire Protection District personnel found a deceased adult in the vehicle," she told St. Louis Public Radio.
Public transportation was significantly disrupted as Metro Transit reported dozens of bus routes out of service in the morning, although limited service was said to have been restored by 9 a.m. as floodwaters began to recede. The St. Louis Fire Department was also on hand to not only provide assistance to citizens caught in the water but also ensure that those still trapped in their vehicles were attended to. "As of noon Tuesday firefighters had responded to 18 incidents involving vehicles stranded in flood waters, but no injuries have been reported," Captain Garon Patrick Mosby, a spokesman for the St. Louis Fire Department, told St. Louis Public Radio.
In response to immediate needs, the Mid County YMCA in Brentwood opened its doors to help those displaced by the flooding. As St. Louis deals with the aftermath of this natural disaster, both citizens and authorities are evaluating the damage caused by the unexpected, record rainfall on Election Day.
