Jacobs Creek Flood
Encyclopedia
The Jacobs Creek Flood, also referred to as the Kansas Turnpike Flash Flood, was a flash flood
that occurred on the night of August 30, 2003, 11 miles (17.7 km) southwest of Emporia, KS, on the Kansas Turnpike
(Interstate 35). The deadly flash flood occurred on Labor Day
weekend and killed 6 people, 5 inside of vehicles swept away by the floodwaters and 1 person who was attempting to rescue those trapped.
of south central Kansas. The headwaters are just south of the Kansas Turnpike and the mouth is at its confluence with the Cottonwood River
between Emporia and Saffordville. The terrain of the watershed is hilly and used primarily as rangeland
. The drainage area upstream of the Kansas Turnpike is about only a few square miles. Jacobs Creek crosses the slightly-elevated embankment of the turnpike through a culvert
.
and western Lyon
counties for several hours. The rain rate over the headwaters of Jacobs Creek is estimated to be several inches per hour with almost 6 inches (15.2 cm) of estimated total rainfall by 8:00pm.
8:30PM: The culvert carrying Jacobs Creek reaches capacity and the flowing water begins to accumulate behind the elevated embankment of the Kansas Turnpike. Water begins to spill onto the northbound lanes of the interstate.
9:00PM: The accumulating water from Jacobs Creek crosses the northbound lanes and begins to accumulate against the barriers dividing northbound and southbound traffic. Cars in the northbound lanes begin to stall and traffic is blocked. Within the next 30 minutes, the water level reaches the top of the median barriers and begins spilling into the southbound lanes of the turnpike. People begin to abandon flooded vehicles.
9:30PM: The force of the accumulated water spilling over the median barriers causes 12 of them to collapse, and the backed-up water surges over the roadway carrying 7 vehicles downstream into Jacobs Creek. Total rainfall is estimated to be from 6 inches (15.2 cm) to 8 inches (20.3 cm) and the peak flow
of Jacobs Creek at the Kansas Turnpike was estimated to be 4,100 ft3/s.
Water remained high in Jacobs Creek downstream of the turnpike for several days, impeding recovery efforts. Severely-damaged vehicles and victims from the flood were found as far as 2 miles (3.2 km) away from the turnpike. The final victim was recovered on September 2nd in a retention pond.
A memorial was constructed at the Matfield Green Rest Area on the Kansas Turnpike just southwest of Jacobs Creek. Of particular mention by the memorial is Al Larsen, the individual killed while trying to rescuing other trapped motorists. At a ceremony unveiling the memorial, then-governor Kathleen Sebelius
recognized the actions of Larsen as well as Ryan Lane, who helped with the rescue efforts and survived the flood.
The event is used as a case study in a training module by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
and is analyzed in detail by a paper published in the National Weather Association
Digest (referenced in this article).
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
that occurred on the night of August 30, 2003, 11 miles (17.7 km) southwest of Emporia, KS, on the Kansas Turnpike
Kansas Turnpike
The Kansas Turnpike is a freeway-standard toll road that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. It runs in a general southwest-northeast direction from the Oklahoma border, and passes through several major Kansas cities, including Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City...
(Interstate 35). The deadly flash flood occurred on Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend and killed 6 people, 5 inside of vehicles swept away by the floodwaters and 1 person who was attempting to rescue those trapped.
Jacobs Creek
Jacobs Creek is located in the Flint HillsFlint Hills
The Flint Hills, historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, are a band of hills in eastern Kansas stretching into north-central Oklahoma, extending from Marshall County, Kansas and Washington County, Kansas in the north to Cowley County, Kansas and Osage County, Oklahoma in the south...
of south central Kansas. The headwaters are just south of the Kansas Turnpike and the mouth is at its confluence with the Cottonwood River
Cottonwood River
The Cottonwood River may be one of four rivers in North America. They are:*Cottonwood River , a tributary of the Minnesota River*Cottonwood River , a tributary of the Neosho River...
between Emporia and Saffordville. The terrain of the watershed is hilly and used primarily as rangeland
Rangeland
Rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts. Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras...
. The drainage area upstream of the Kansas Turnpike is about only a few square miles. Jacobs Creek crosses the slightly-elevated embankment of the turnpike through a culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
.
The August 30th, 2003, Flood
7:00-8:00PM: A slow-moving, low-topped storm with very heavy rainfall rates developed over central Kansas, remaining over eastern ChaseChase County, Kansas
Chase County is a county located in Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,790. Its county seat and most populous city is Cottonwood Falls. Chase County is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.The county has been the subject...
and western Lyon
Lyon County, Kansas
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county was named for General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in the Civil War. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,690. Emporia is the largest city and county seat...
counties for several hours. The rain rate over the headwaters of Jacobs Creek is estimated to be several inches per hour with almost 6 inches (15.2 cm) of estimated total rainfall by 8:00pm.
8:30PM: The culvert carrying Jacobs Creek reaches capacity and the flowing water begins to accumulate behind the elevated embankment of the Kansas Turnpike. Water begins to spill onto the northbound lanes of the interstate.
9:00PM: The accumulating water from Jacobs Creek crosses the northbound lanes and begins to accumulate against the barriers dividing northbound and southbound traffic. Cars in the northbound lanes begin to stall and traffic is blocked. Within the next 30 minutes, the water level reaches the top of the median barriers and begins spilling into the southbound lanes of the turnpike. People begin to abandon flooded vehicles.
9:30PM: The force of the accumulated water spilling over the median barriers causes 12 of them to collapse, and the backed-up water surges over the roadway carrying 7 vehicles downstream into Jacobs Creek. Total rainfall is estimated to be from 6 inches (15.2 cm) to 8 inches (20.3 cm) and the peak flow
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
of Jacobs Creek at the Kansas Turnpike was estimated to be 4,100 ft3/s.
Aftermath
The flash flooding of Jacobs Creek at the Kansas Turnpike killed four children and their mother, as well as another man who was killed after rescuing four people trapped in their vehicles. In addition, this flash flood caused approximately $250,000 worth of property damage along the creek.Water remained high in Jacobs Creek downstream of the turnpike for several days, impeding recovery efforts. Severely-damaged vehicles and victims from the flood were found as far as 2 miles (3.2 km) away from the turnpike. The final victim was recovered on September 2nd in a retention pond.
A memorial was constructed at the Matfield Green Rest Area on the Kansas Turnpike just southwest of Jacobs Creek. Of particular mention by the memorial is Al Larsen, the individual killed while trying to rescuing other trapped motorists. At a ceremony unveiling the memorial, then-governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
recognized the actions of Larsen as well as Ryan Lane, who helped with the rescue efforts and survived the flood.
The event is used as a case study in a training module by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is a nonprofit consortium of more than 75 universities offering Ph.D.s in the atmospheric and related sciences. UCAR manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research and provides additional services to strengthen and support research and...
and is analyzed in detail by a paper published in the National Weather Association
National Weather Association
The National Weather Association is an American professional association with a mission to support and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities...
Digest (referenced in this article).