Hundreds of children were airlifted to safety by Black Hawk military helicopters as floodwaters inundated a summer camp in Missouri. The torrential rain unleashed what forecasters described as a "once-in-a-millennium" flooding event, submerging roads and structures.
The unfolding emergency centered on Camp Taum Sauk in Reynolds County, where rising floodwaters from the Black River trapped approximately 200 campers and staff after roads leading to the remote camp disappeared. By Friday afternoon, the Missouri Army National Guard had deployed Black Hawk helicopters to evacuate the campers and counselors, transporting them to a nearby elementary school where parents awaited their children.
The severe weather began Thursday night, with powerful thunderstorms repeatedly tracking over the same region, a phenomenon known as "training" by meteorologists. Locations across southern Missouri received between six and more than 12 inches of rain, with the heaviest totals concentrated in Reynolds County. Flash flood warnings were issued for Reynolds and neighboring Iron County shortly before midnight, escalating to a Flash Flood Emergency by 4 a.m. Friday, signaling a particularly dangerous situation.
Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and activated the Missouri National Guard and specialized search-and-rescue teams in response to floodwaters trapping residents across multiple counties. By late Friday, hundreds of people had been rescued from floodwaters, rooftops, trees, and stranded vehicles. Officials warned the Black River was expected to crest above record levels.
The flooding's impact extended beyond Camp Taum Sauk. At the Bearcat Getaway Campground, campers who had climbed onto a building's roof to escape rising water found the structure collapsed. Emergency crews also rescued three people stranded in trees above the Black River in Reynolds County. Two rescue boats capsized during operations, though all first responders were recovered.
Tragically, the disaster also resulted in a fatality. Authorities confirmed on Saturday that Faith Gregory, who had gone missing after floodwaters swept her home from its foundation in Crawford County, was found dead approximately 1.8 miles downstream. Officials stated no other individuals remained unaccounted for in that county.
Despite the frightening ordeal, some children described the helicopter rescue as an adventure. For many, the camp remains a cherished place. Camp Taum Sauk expressed gratitude on social media to the emergency responders for ensuring the safety of its community.