Around 100 residents of Unicorn Apartments were forced to evacuate on Thursday afternoon after a flash flood swept through the area.
Police said a nearby creek overflowed from all the rain in the afternoon, and floodwater ended up sweeping through people's apartments and the complex parking lot.
Residents were seen scooping buckets of water from inside their cars.
Man clears water from flash flood that came inside his side cab. @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/F6MWFKzkac
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) May 27, 2016
In total, three different apartment buildings on the complex were forced to evacuate.
Dewayne Dunlap, who has a first floor unit, was one of the many people whose home suffered damage.
"I walked into the kitchen and there was a big stream of water going over the floor," he explained. "I peeked out the window and there was a river going through the parking lot."
Dunlap said he only had a few seconds to grab what he could before emergency crews came to evacuate him.
"You're immediately looking around trying to see what's damaged or destroyed that's laying on the ground or floor," explained Dunlap. "I tried grabbing any quilts, any stuff my mom has made for me over the years, and any electronics that don't like water."
Neighbors evacuated from apartment complex after flash flood comes through area. @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/jNfQtpUALO
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) May 27, 2016
Neighbors said they only had a few seconds to grab what they could before they had to evacuate apartment pic.twitter.com/WTSQM7pJl3
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) May 27, 2016
Damien Salazar, the owner of Unicorn Apartments, said the flash flood was tough to believe.
"It was crazy, the roar of the water and how fast it came up," Salazar said. "It took everybody by surprise. I don't think anybody could prepare for anything of that magnitude."
Police said no injuries were reported in the flash flood.
On Thursday night, emergency crews told residents they could not go back to their apartments due to the buildings being unstable.
A church down the road from the apartment complex was serving as a place where residents could get food, water, and shelter arrangements.
Michelle Smith, a resident who was forced to evacuate, said Thursday would be a day she may never forget.
"It's just crazy," she explained. "I know it got into everybody's apartment. It's probably a big loss for everybody."
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
