Floodwater from Stranger Creek has pushed well past flood stage near Easton, shutting down most roads into town. The National Weather Service extended a flood warning for Leavenworth and Atchison counties through Sunday morning, as the creek sat more than three feet above its 17-foot flood stage heading into the weekend.
Creek Surges Past 20 Feet, Closing Nearly Every Road Into Easton
The warning, issued and updated Friday, is set to expire Sunday at 7:45 a.m., according to KQ2. Forecasters reported that moderate flooding was occurring and more moderate flooding was forecast for Stranger Creek at Easton, per KCTV5. Gauge readings diverged slightly between updates: KQ2 reported the stage at 20.2 feet at 7:30 p.m. CDT Friday, while a separate update from GovOneStop put the stage at 20.5 feet at 9:30 a.m. that same day.
Those numbers matter because the creek's flood-impact chart reads like a checklist of what Easton is now living through. At 17 feet, water begins entering low-lying fields south of town. By 19.5 feet, Highway 192 just east of Easton closes due to swift water flowing over the roadway, according to the same NWS warning. Once the gauge reaches 20 feet, every road out of Easton is closed except for Highway 192 west of 231st Street, and Millwood Road sits underwater three miles north of town.
Homes Taking on Water as Campground Floods
At 21.5 feet, the warning states, most of Easton east of 231st Street floods outright, a local campground goes under, and several homes see water reach their first floors. The Kansas City Star reported that at that same level, floodwater nearly surrounds — but does not enter — the former Easton grade school.
Forecasts on when the creek will recede have also varied by update. KQ2's version of the warning projected the river would fall below flood stage by Sunday morning and keep dropping to 2.4 feet by Wednesday evening. A separate GovOneStop update instead described the river cresting near 25 feet and falling below flood stage late Friday evening, while the Kansas City Star reported a different timeline, saying the creek was forecast to rise above flood stage Thursday afternoon and crest shortly after midnight Friday before falling below flood stage Friday afternoon. The Star's broader coverage of the region noted that some flood warnings would extend through the weekend and into the following week.
Flooding Stretches Across the Region
Stranger Creek is not alone in running high. The Missouri River at Leavenworth was expected to reach its own 20-foot flood stage Saturday evening before dropping below flood stage early Sunday, with lowland flooding occurring along both the east and west banks at that level, per the Star's reporting. Downstream at St. Joseph, the Missouri River was forecast to crest at 20.2 feet Saturday afternoon before falling below flood stage late Sunday night. At Atchison, KCTV5 reported the Missouri River stage at 22.2 feet at 7:30 p.m. CDT Friday — above its 22-foot flood stage.
Additional flood warnings were issued for Stranger Creek near Tonganoxie, where minor flooding was forecast, and for Wakenda Creek, where minor flooding was expected, according to the Star's reporting.
Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Away From Flooded Roads
The National Weather Service repeated its standard but urgent warning: motorists should turn around rather than drive through flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths happen in vehicles. Officials also said drivers should not attempt to go around barricades or push cars through flooded areas, per the same KQ2 report. People in flood-prone or low-lying areas should move to higher ground, and anyone told to evacuate should do so immediately.
The warning also cautioned against contact with water that may be electrically charged. Just six inches of swiftly moving water can knock a person off their feet, while 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most vehicles. Anyone trapped by rising water was advised to seek the highest possible point and call 911.
