Missouri Flood Rescue: National Guard Black Hawks Evacuate 200 Campers

Severe flash flooding on July 10 struck Iron, Reynolds, Crawford, Madison and Wayne counties in southeast Missouri after a one‑in‑1,000‑year rainstorm dumped more than 12 inches of rain in hours. The Missouri National Guard deployed eight UH‑60 Black Hawk helicopters to rescue over 200 children and counselors stranded at Camp Taum Sauk near Lesterville, transporting them to safety and later to a nearby elementary school.

Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency, activating the State Emergency Operations Plan and coordinating additional first‑responder resources, including boats, drones and ground crews. The event highlighted the growing frequency of extreme rainfall linked to climate change, with scientists noting a 45% rise in heavy‑precipitation days in the Midwest since 1958. Officials warned that similar events are likely to increase as temperatures rise.

The rescue operation concluded without fatalities, and the community expressed gratitude to the National Guard, local emergency services and volunteers for their rapid response.