Campers rescued after building collapses into floodwaters
Dozens of people were rescued from rapidly rising floodwaters in Missouri on Friday, including several campers who took shelter on the roof of a collapsed building, authorities said.
Initial reports from the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office indicated that 10 to 17 people waiting to be rescued on the roof may have been submerged as a result of the collapse.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the campers were safe and rescued.
The sheriff’s office said more than 90 water rescues were conducted overall involving residents, campers and motorists affected by the flooding.
JoAnn Franklin – PHOTO: Campers sit atop a vehicle during flash flooding, July 10, 2026, Lesterville, Mo.
Five campers previously reported missing from the Bearcat Getaway Campground were later located and accounted for, authorities said.
Missouri’s governor declared a state of emergency Friday in response to flash flooding.
Heartland News – PHOTO: Black River floodwaters are seen in Lesterville, Missouri, on July 10, 2026.
“Over the past 24 hours, intense storms have created dangerous flash flooding in several parts of Missouri, resulting in numerous swift water rescues. Activating the State Emergency Operations Plan allows our agencies to act quickly, coordinate resources and support local response efforts,” Governor Mike Kehoe said in a statement Friday. he said.
JoAnn Franklin – PHOTO: Campers sit atop a vehicle during flash flooding, July 10, 2026, Lesterville, Mo.
“The threat is not over with additional heavy rain expected throughout the weekend. If you are camping, swimming or spending time near rivers and streams, move to higher ground and be alert to weather conditions,” Kehoe said. he said. “Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow guidance from local officials.”
Rescue operations began around 2:30 a.m. Friday after emergency calls reported multiple campers trapped by rising water, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
A flash flood emergency has been declared in several parts of Missouri, and heavy rains are expected to continue through the evening.
Heartland News – PHOTO: People stand on a bridge over Black River floodwaters in Lesterville, Missouri, July 10, 2026.
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Water rescue efforts were reportedly underway amid the catastrophic flood.
Parts of Iron and Reynolds counties received 7 to 12 inches of rain. The Black River at Lesterville rose 8 feet in an hour, and that water moved toward Annapolis, where river levels were rising rapidly.
JoAnn Franklin – PHOTO: A rescue boat floats through floodwaters of the Black River in Lesterville, Missouri, July 10, 2026.
This emergency includes recreation areas such as Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Towns in emergency include Viburnum, Annapolis, Glover, Oates, Bixby, Lesterville, Black, Hogan, Chloride and Sabula.
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Additional heavy rain and storms will continue throughout this weekend from the eastern Plains to the Ohio Valley and into the interior Northeast.
There is a level 3/4 (moderate risk) for heavy precipitation in already hard-hit Southeast Missouri on Friday. Also, level 2/4 (slight risk) for extreme precipitation from the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Central Appalachians.
A Flood Watch is in effect for more than 21 million Americans from Pennsylvania to Tennessee and west to Missouri.
Officials are warning Missourians not to attempt to wade through floodwater, even if the water appears shallow.
Just six inches of floodwater can knock a person off their feet, and as little as a foot of water can knock most cars off the road.
“More than half of flood-related deaths in Missouri are vehicle victims. Nighttime severe weather conditions are especially dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. If you find yourself stranded under floodwater, call for help immediately and seek higher ground,” the governor’s office said in a statement Friday. he warned.
-ABC News’ Alexandra Fine and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
