KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Heavy morning rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on metro roads Friday morning.
There were several reports of crashes slowing traffic on interstates and city streets alike, as well as high or standing water on roadways.
Flash flooding caused problems in Independence, Missouri, especially at the intersection of Route 24 and Northern Road. It's an area that floods often in conditions such as Friday morning's, but fortunately the situation was not as dire as it has been in the past. Still, two cars remained stuck in high water into the late morning hours.
Later in the morning, people started to retrieve their cars from the flooded roads. Some drivers found standing water inside their car.
.@41actionnews This car was pulled out of the middle of Highway 24 in Independence this morning. I think it's a little wet inside. pic.twitter.com/vZv2XCR2Ft
— Nick Kastelan (@nickkastelan) May 25, 2018
"Nobody predicted it to rain this hard, this fast," said Thelma Jordan, owner of Fairmount Liquor.
This isn't the first time her business, and others in the are, have flooded.
"This is a very big loss. I just don't know what I am going to do right now," Jordan said.
Flooding on 24HWY and Northern in Independence. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/d6mSb9w7Gd
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialTV) May 25, 2018
Jordan said part of the flooding is due to a broken culvert, and there is a dispute over who is responsible for repairing it.
“If they are responsible, then Sugar Creek should do something to make them fix it, or if Sugar Creek is responsible then he should have someone coming out to get it fixed,” Jordan said.
Sugar Creek Mayor Mike Larson said in a statement that the issue is a problem on private property but said that the city has met with MODOT and the City of Independence to discuss how to remedy the flooding situation. The full statement can be read at the bottom of this story.
Jordan said because of the favorable Memorial Day weekend forecast, she purchased more product. Now, she doesn’t know when her store will reopen.
Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard in KCMO was shut down for a time due to standing water, and high water on I-35 near West Pennway was also causing problems for drivers.
BREAKING: I-35 FLOODED @ Pennway, @JadeDeGood is seeing a LOT of problems on the roads and @lnanderson says the RAIN will keep falling for a while. Be careful this morning! pic.twitter.com/E6jcUkOkES
— Lindsay Shively (@LindsayShively) May 25, 2018
There were also reports of emergency crews conducting water rescues, as well as spotty power outages in some areas.
The rain was expected to clear out before lunch time, making way for sunshine and summer-like temperatures before a dry, hot Memorial Day weekend.
Sugar Creek Mayor Mike Larson sent the following statement to 41 Action News:
Due to a flooding event at U.S. 24 Highway and Northern that took place from a storm that struck the Kansas City Metro area on May 25th, 2018, there have been several media inquiries to the City of Sugar Creek regarding actions taken to resolve this issue. It is most unfortunate this situation continues, but the City of Sugar Creek maintains that this is a problem on private property. However, the City of Sugar Creek has met with MoDOT and the City of Independence within the past two months to determine how this flooding situation can be remedied for the benefit of all concerned.
Any further questions should be addressed to Mayor Mike Larson, 816-252-4400 ext. 1132 or mlarson@sugar-creek.mo.us
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