Flooding Closes KS Turnpike, US 77 South/Southeast Of Wichita

[hatrack]

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Flash flooding in Kansas is forcing people from their homes, closing roads, including a section of the Kansas Turnpike, and prompting schools to call off classes.

Both directions of the Turnpike from Wellington to the South Haven remained closed Wednesday afternoon. A video shared by the Sumner County Sheriff's Office shows water rushing over lanes of the Turnpike. No injuries have been reported.

Here's a screenshot of the highway closures, highlighted in red, from KanDrive.org as of 2:50 p.m. The photo doesn't show that U.S. 77 is also closed between Douglass and Augusta.



A bridge on Route 166 is out due to construction, making detouring more of a challenge. The KTA is working with KDOT and Oklahoma DOT to reroute drivers to Braman and back over the state line. US-81 was closed in the same area after being covered in water, but it has reopened. And there were numerous water rescues in the Augusta and Mulvane areas. Rescuers in Mulvane assisted or rescued nearly a dozen people due to vehicles being submerged, flooded or washed off roadways.

Water also covered streets in parts of Wichita, Wellington and other parts of Reno, Butler, Sedgwick, Sumner and Cowley counties. Authorities urge people to not drive into high water. (follow each county's hyperlink for a list of that county's closings)

EDIT

http://www.kake.com/story/40434914/flooding-closes-roads-leads-to-school-closures-evacuations