A 23-year-old woman has been found dead following a "once-in-a-millennium" flood event in Missouri that swept away her home and left residents stranded. Faith Gregory was discovered by volunteers on Saturday morning, approximately 1.8 miles from her Huzzah Creek residence, days after severe thunderstorms inundated the region on Friday.
The Crawford County Sheriff's Office confirmed the discovery, stating, "This is not the outcome that any of us were hoping for. Our thoughts and prayers are with Faith's family, friends and all those affected by this tragic loss." Gregory was the final person unaccounted for in the county following the disastrous rainfall.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on Friday. He later reported that hundreds of people had been rescued from floodwaters, rooftops, and stranded vehicles. The relentless thunderstorms dropped between six and 12 inches of rain near the Black River in southeastern Missouri, leading to widespread flooding of roads, campgrounds, and communities.
During the flooding, the walls of Gregory's home, where she lived with her boyfriend Logan Ousley, collapsed. Gregory and Ousley, along with their four dogs, entered a kayak but were swept away by the currents. Ousley managed to reach safety, and one dog was found alive approximately eight miles from their home. Gregory's body was found days later.
Her sister, Kayla Dawn, described Gregory as her "person" and "best friend." In social media posts, Dawn had pleaded for help finding her sister, urging residents to search the creeks and call her name. She later stated that any donations should be sent to Wilson Mortuary for funeral arrangements, rather than a GoFundMe.
On Friday morning, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the area, warning residents to move to higher ground due to the life-threatening situation. The agency advised against travel unless fleeing flooded areas or under an evacuation order.
Governor Kehoe had cautioned that the threat was not over, with more heavy rain expected. He urged those camping or spending time near rivers and streams to seek higher ground and remain alert. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported rescues at various locations, including Camp Taum Sauk, where children and staff were airlifted to safety by National Guard helicopters. At the Bearcat Getaway campground, a building collapsed, sending several people into the water before they were rescued.
The extreme weather also posed risks to first responders, with one rescue boat becoming entangled in a submerged line, forcing troopers aboard to abandon the vessel and reach safety on shore.