Elwood, Kansas under mandatory evacuation due to Missouri River flooding

Elwood residents evacuated Thursday evening as emergency sirens sounded in the Doniphan County community.

The evacuation began as the Missouri River, at Elwood, reached 30 feet. At that level, the City of Elwood’s mandatory evacuation plan is implemented.

Shortly before 7:30 Thursday evening, as the sirens sounded, a post on the official Doniphan County Emergency Management page listed the river stage, at Elwood, as 30.13 feet.

The National Weather Service forecast Thursday evening called for the river to crest at 30.1 feet early Friday morning.

Elwood City Attorney Joel Euler told those in attendance at Thursday evening’s flood-focused community meeting that residents had 8 hours to evacuate once the sirens sound. After 8 hours, residential power and gas are shut off.

In order to re-enter after evacuating, residents will be required to show a City of Elwood sewer/water utility bill and identification.

Red Cross shelters are in place, one at the Leonard L. Clary Community Building in Troy, and another at 6001 South 9th Street in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Graphic courtesy National Weather Service. MSC News Brian Hagen contributed this report.