Overview

• The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Wichita, Derby, Newton and surrounding communities as streets and intersections filled with water Tuesday.
• Valley Center logged 4.37 inches of rain over 12 hours, overwhelming storm drains and leaving most roadways impassable according to Police Chief Lloyd Newman.
• First responders carried out multiple water rescues, helping motorists stranded in stalled vehicles by using rafts and ropes to navigate swift currents.
• Governor Laura Kelly and Sedgwick County officials declared state and local disaster emergencies to unlock state assistance and coordinate relief operations.
• The Kansas Department of Transportation warned drivers to avoid flooded ramps on U.S. 54 and forecasters say rainfall should ease by Wednesday with scattered storms possible later in the week.