More than 350 people have been rescued from flooded areas of southeast Missouri as of Saturday morning, officials said.
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A camper is wedged between trees on the banks of the Black River after flash flooding caused water levels to rise and flood the campsite in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
鈥淚t鈥檚 overwhelming, I need help,鈥 Kimberley Garrett, of Lesterville, Mo., said in her wet and mud-filled living room in her house that was flooded in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding caused the nearby Black River to flood, and pulled water, dirt and debris into the home of Garrett, who鈥檚 lived in Lesterville since 1998. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never even been close to the top of the porch, let alone inside the house,鈥 Garrett said.
The Missouri National Guard used helicopters to rescue 202 campers and staff stranded at Camp Taum Sauk, in Reynolds County, when flooding hit the area Friday, July 10, 2026. Video courtesy the Highway Patrol
Flooding around Black River Lodge is shown Friday, July 10, 2026. Video courtesy of Sharon Thomason-Sekyi.
Photos: Aftermath of destructive flooding in southeast Missouri
Miley Maize, 15, left, and Isabella Johnson, both of Lesterville, Mo., figure out how categorize a shirt in the gym of Lesterville High School, where clothing donations had been dropped off Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding from the Black River affected the southeastern region of Missouri, and Lesterville High was set up as one of many central points for donations to come through and be sent out to those in need who lost belongings. 鈥淢y house wasn鈥檛 affected, and I just want to be able to help out where I can,鈥 Maize said.
Jimmie Kirkman, of Lesterville, Mo., brings his dog into his home Saturday, July 11, 2026, after it was flooded from the nearby Black River. Flash flooding in the area caused the river to reach record highs and almost submerged Kirkman鈥檚 house. He and his family couldn鈥檛 escape in time and had to be rescued by first responders from their kitchen. 鈥淗onestly, what鈥檚 next is just figuring out where we鈥檙e going to go,鈥 Kirkman said.
Hollie Rathbun, center, of Lesterville, Mo., leads a group prayer for volunteers, family and friends at the end of the night at Lesterville High School, where clothing, food and hygiene donations were dropped off by neighbors and community members Saturday, July 11, 2026. 鈥淭he big thing is just seeing the kids 鈥 they鈥檙e looking out and seeing the needs in their community and saying, 鈥業 can fill that need,鈥 and just going out and doing that,鈥 Rathbun said.
Mandy Miller, of Lesterville, Mo., stands in her flooded bedroom in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding from the nearby Black River destroyed Miller鈥檚 house that she鈥檚 owned for 10 years. On the day of the flood, she went to a friend鈥檚 house to help them evacuate, then came back to her own house to grab her dogs and leave. 鈥淚 knew what to expect, but I didn鈥檛 expect this,鈥 Miller said.
A Branson firefighter surveys a tipped over camper at a campground in Lesterville, Mo., Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding caused high water levels in the Black River to flood the grounds, flipping the campers and destroying them.
Evy Miller, of Lesterville, Mo., walks through her flooded childhood home Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Lesterville. Flash flooding from the Black River flooded her mother鈥檚 house, and Evy came to help clean up and save what they could. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just crazy 鈥 I feel bad for everyone,鈥 Miller said.
The kitchen of Ashley and Jimmie Kirkman鈥檚 home is seen Saturday, July 11, 2026, after being flooded by the Black River in Lesterville, Mo. The Kirkmans and their children couldn鈥檛 evacuate in time and were stranded in the kitchen as first responders rescued them. 鈥淚 was scared that I was going to have to put the kids in survival mode,鈥 Ashley Kirkman said.
Kimberley Garrett, of Lesterville, Mo., breaks down as a neighbor comforts her in her yard on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Heavy rains caused the nearby Black River to flood and pulled water and dirt into Garrett鈥檚 home, destroying the majority of her possessions and almost collapsing her porch roof. 鈥淚t鈥檚 overwhelming, I need help,鈥 said Garrett, who has lived in Lesterville since 1998.
鈥淭his is where everyone goes to leave home stuff at home, and now it鈥檚 all gone,鈥 Norm Loughary, of Bismarck, Mo., said as he walks along the banks of the Black River with binoculars trying to find his camper that got swept away in the flash flooding in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Loughary has camped at this campsite for three years and went home briefly with his grandkids before getting a call the next morning that his camper was gone.
Governor Mike Kehoe talks with members of Missouri Task Force One and Boone County Search & Rescue teams at Arcadia Valley High School in Arcadia, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding brought unprecedented high water levels from the Black River in Arcadia and neighboring towns in the southeast region.
A car drives by where a chunk of the ground below Route 21 broke off in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding caused the nearby Black River to overflow, flooding campgrounds and eroding roads in the town.
鈥淚t鈥檚 overwhelming, I need help,鈥 Kimberley Garrett, of Lesterville, Mo., said in her wet and mud-filled living room in her house that was flooded in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding caused the nearby Black River to flood, and pulled water, dirt and debris into the home of Garrett, who鈥檚 lived in Lesterville since 1998. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never even been close to the top of the porch, let alone inside the house,鈥 Garrett said.
Trey Millard, left, of Columbia, Mo., throws a box to his dad, Rob Millard, right, across a broken County Road 364 as his brother, Ky Millard, prepares to hand off a baby carrier in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Flash flooding from the nearby Black River submerged the nearby campgrounds and eroded the road, stranding the Millards who spent the last week camping and was planning to leave the day the flooding came. 鈥淭here鈥檚 people who lost a lot more,鈥 Trey Millard said.
A camper is wedged between trees on the banks of the Black River after flash flooding caused water levels to rise and flood the campsite in Lesterville, Mo., on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
A water bottle speckled in mud lies in the road in front of a tipped-over camper in Parks Bluff Campground, in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding raised river levels and flooded the campsite earlier in the day, prompting evacuations.
Water from the Black River floods Main Street in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding caused water levels to rise in the river, causing road closures and evacuations.
A truck鈥檚 interior is muddy after being left behind because the water levels from the Black River rose to dangerous levels in Parks Bluff Campground, in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding caused water levels to rise in the river and flood the campgrounds earlier in the day, causing evacuations.
Trees are surrounded by water from the Black River in Parks Bluff Campground, in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding caused water levels to rise in the river and flood the campgrounds earlier in the day, causing evacuations.
Water levels from the Black River rise close to a house on its banks near Parks Bluff Campground, in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding caused water levels to rise in the river, causing road closures and evacuations.
The main gravel road in Parks Bluff Campground is flooded from the high water levels from the Black River in Lesterville, Mo., on Friday, July 10, 2026. Flash flooding caused water levels to rise in the river and flood the campgrounds earlier in the day, causing evacuations.
A small campground and cabin is almost underwater next to a bridge on Route 21 on the Black River due to flash flooding in Centerville, Mo., and the surrounding region on Friday, July 10, 2026.
The Black River overflows near a bridge on Route 21 due to flash flooding in Centerville, Mo., and the surrounding region on Friday, July 10, 2026.
High water levels submerge trees along a bridge on Route 21 on the Black River due to flash flooding in Centerville, Mo., and the surrounding region on Friday, July 10, 2026.
In this Series
Full coverage: Flooding in southeast Missouri
Hannah Wyman | Post-Dispatch
Retail Reporter
