After the flooding that plagued parts of Kansas last week, it is worth remembering September 12-13, 1977. On that day, thunderstorms deluged the Kansas City area with torrential rains in the early morning hours, and then again that evening. After a sunny afternoon, heavy rains again soaked the Central Kansas City area, dropping up to 5 inches of rain in a two-hour period from 7 to 9 p.m. Independence, Missouri recorded 18 inches of rain from the event. Flooding claimed the lives of 25 persons. Of the fatalities, 17 victims were trapped in vehicles. The Country Club Plaza area was hardest hit. 2000 vehicles had to be towed following the storm, 150 of which had to be pulled out of Brush Creek, which runs through the Plaza area.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu