Missouri flooding leaves one dead, while rescuers helicopter more than 200 to safety at summer camp

By — Hallie Golden, Associated Press Hallie Golden, Associated Press By — Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/missouri-flooding-leaves-one-dead-while-rescuers-helicopter-more-than-200-to-safety-at-summer-camp Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Missouri flooding leaves one dead, while rescuers helicopter more than 200 to safety at summer camp Nation Updated on Jul 11, 2026 7:27 PM EDT — Published on Jul 11, 2026 11:22 AM EDT A woman was found dead in Missouri on Saturday after heavy rainfall battered parts of the state the previous day, forcing numerous emergency rescues and evacuations, including at a summer camp with more than 200 children. Several other states also faced the potential for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding as the slow moving storms moved southward. The National Weather Service said the severe weather impacted a wide region stretching from the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri eastward into much of the Ohio and Tennessee river valleys. READ MORE: As heat wave breaks, flash flood warnings issued for parts of New York City and Northeast The service said the storms could bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and scattered flash flooding to the multistate region, with some places seeing impacts into Sunday. In eastern Tennessee, flooding closed some roads and downed power lines, and authorities from Kentucky to West Virginia told people to be ready to seek higher ground. Missouri's Emergency Management Agency warned that while the storms move south and out of the state, further thunderstorms could still bring additional flash flooding, especially in areas that have already received 6 and 12 inches (15 and 30 centimeters) of rain. Summer campers rescued as floodwaters rose Friday's drenching rains washed away roads around Camp Taum Sauk, trapping children and staff at the site in the small southeastern community of Lesterville, according Sgt. Eddie Young, with the state's highway patrol. The Army National Guard used Black Hawk helicopters to fly them to a nearby elementary school and reunite them with their families, he said. The camp thanked emergency crews in a post on Instagram, saying, "We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe." Meanwhile campers at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) south of St. Louis, climbed onto a building to get away from the raging waters but it then collapsed, Young said. "Between the weight and the constant waters underneath it, it just gave away on them," he said. Three other people were trapped on trees on the Black River in Reynolds County and were rescued, Young said. Missouri woman swept away in floodwaters The body of Faith Gregory, who went missing in Crawford County after her home was swept away from its foundation, was found by volunteers late Saturday morning. He