Tropical storm Bill made landfall in Texas on Tuesday morning. Rockport, Texas – where we were a few weeks ago – was hit hard. Several roads including the road to the community pool that Donna rode to regularly is currently under a foot of water. South of Corpus Christi, four to six inches of rain fell in just two hours!
The remnants of the storm – called a tropical depression at this point – are moving to the northeast. Southern Missouri, south of the I-44 corridor through Springfield, is expected to get hit today through Friday evening. That happens to be where we are located on the Turkey Creek by Lake Taneycomo. Four to six inches of rain are expected by tomorrow afternoon.
The creek is already overflowing its banks. Here are before and after photos from Donna’s walk showing various points along the creek on Saturday and what it looked like yesterday.
Hackett Falls on Saturday
Hackett Falls yesterday
Maurice Lane overpass Saturday
Maurice Lane overpass yesterday
We’ve had less than four inches of rain in the last week. If we get more than four inches in the next 36 hours, Turkey Creek may flood. I’m hoping the water released from the dam at Table Rock Lake is reduced to keep the level in Lake Taneycomo from rising too much. If Taneycomo rises, Turkey Creek has nowhere to go but over its banks.
Here at the park, we can see how high Turkey Creek already is. A couple of days ago, we helped our neighbors carry their kayaks to the boat launch. We stood on the concrete ramp that’s disappeared under water now.
The concrete boat ramp is under water
The woods along the creek bank, 30 yards from our site are flooded.
Flooded woods along Turkey Creek
Great weather if you’re a duck
The creek would have to rise significantly before we’re in any danger. When we arrived, I disconnected our trailer. It fit fine in our pull-through site, but the site is uneven and the trailer was situated nose high making it difficult to unload and load the scooter. Today I’ll hook it up in case we have to move on short notice.
In case you have to bug out, check out ABC campground, I’ve never stayed there but I’ve driven past it about a gazillion times in the past 40 years and I can guarantee it to be on high ground. Its also within scooter distance of grocery shopping on hwy 248 or you can take Flynn over to the center where the big box stores are all at, Walmart, target, best buy etc.
Thanks Clayton. Having someone with local knowledge is a big help. I head from another local person the only time this park flooded was in 2011 after 10 days of torrential rain.