River Causes Evacuations and School Closing

Having lived in the Belle Plaine area for almost 20 years. This is the second or third time this area has canceled school due to flooding of the Ninnescah River west and south of town. Localized flooding has occurred, but travel around the Belle Plaine area hasn't been as impossible compared to the flooding of the Ninnescah River.

The Arkansas River which flows east of town has caused major flooding like the Ninnescah River. I haven't recalled the Arkansas River flooding to have closed school for USD 357. It has made it hard for those of us living in Belle Plaine to get to the towns of Udall and Mulvane due to Highways 53 and 55 being closed in the past.

On April 27th and 28th, USD 357, Belle Plaine, Kansas, school district closed school for two days due to flooding. The flooding of the Ninnescah River 3 miles west of Belle Plaine began flooding the area around the river causing Highway 81 to be closed from the Sedgewick/Sumner County line to Wellington, Kansas. This was due to the river flooding the highway at the Highway 81 and Highway 55 that runs through Belle Plaine east to Udall.

The Ninnescah River crested sometime Monday evening or Tuesday morning causing further flooding in the Highway 81 and 55 exchange. With the Ninnescah River running south of Belle Plaine, Kansas, the river crested and flooded a portion of Oliver that runs south out of town. This caused Oliver to be closed until the flooding receded.

The Belle Plaine School District Closed school Monday knowing the Ninnescah River would make it impossible to get the kids who lived in the bus routes in these two areas to get home. Knowing that the Ninnescah River has a tendency to flood two of the four areas that access Belle Plaine, the safety issue of the flooding and school kids was a major concern for the Superintendent and School Board.

Local Emergency Crews had already evacuated Ponderosa Estates giving them the opportunity to move to higher ground. There are several students who live in this Belle Plaine housing community.

I suspect this won't be the last occurrences the Belle Plaine School District and citizens of the town will see of the flooding of either of these two rivers. Nor will it be the last we see of any localized flooding in the area since spring rainfall totals so far are just the beginning for us in this small town.

Source

KWCH; http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=10260251