Sedgwick County officials warn against driving into floodwaters after overnight storms

Sedgwick County emergency staff told commissioners that a fast-moving thunderstorm early in the previous night produced intense rainfall and flash flooding across parts of the county, prompting wireless emergency alerts and a large rescue response.

Julie, the county’s emergency presenter, said the area received repeated rounds of heavy rain — in isolated spots between about 2 and 6.5 inches — and that flash-flood warnings began around 9:55 p.m., with wireless emergency alerts issued shortly after. “Two to three inches of rain had fallen and we were expecting another one to two inches,” she said, urging people to “get off the roads. It’s not safe to be driving on the roads.”

Julie gave a frank accounting of the operational load on first responders: 13 general alarm calls, 27 service calls related to water, four electrical hazards, two elevator malfunctions, five structure-fire calls, 112 flooded-vehicle calls and multiple water rescues. She warned residents not to drive around barricades and said abandoned vehicles left overnight are being towed as streets begin to dry.

Commissioners asked whether the damage would warrant a state declaration. Julie said the flooding was predominantly ‘‘ground-up’’ surface flooding rather than stream or river overtopping, and that the county likely would not meet FEMA thresholds for individual flood assistance. She said she had contacted state officials to evaluate potential agricultural impacts and urged residents who suffer damage to take before-and-after photos to document losses for any future aid.

County staff also flagged several creeks and rivers to watch, including the Ninnescah (Nusca in remarks) River and Cowskin Creek, and warned that low-water crossings — such as the low spot at 13th Street near 103rd — commonly overtop in these events. Julie noted that some flood stages will crest overnight but typically recede quickly after the rain stops.

The commission closed the item by thanking first responders and reminding residents that emergency services remain available. County staff said a self-reporting damage-assessment tool had been posted to the county web page for residents to report impacts.

Next steps: county staff will continue to monitor river stages, follow up with the state on agricultural impacts and compile injury, rescue and damage data to inform any future requests for assistance.