CRESTWOOD, Mo. — Multiple cars were swept off Whitecliff Park Lane by flash flooding Wednesday afternoon, dispatchers for the fire department said.
Dispatchers said the flash flooding happened Wednesday afternoon in Whitecliff Park, not far from Gravois Creek. The National Weather Service said Crestwood saw more than an inch of rain in less than 20 minutes as strong storms blew through the area.
First responders said some people were standing on top of their cars when first responders arrived, but everyone involved is accounted for.
One man had to be rescued from his car but no one was hurt.
Julie Nesselhauf parked her van at Whitecliff Park to walk to nearby Grant’s Farm with her kids.
"Next thing we know, we had somebody try to take us to our car and our car was flooded,” she said.
The force of the water had also moved the van from where she parked it. When first responders got there, they feared she and her family were inside the van, so they broke the windows to check.
“I don't care about the vehicle, I care about me and my four kids,” she said.
Swiftwater teams rescued a man in another car. Crestwood's fire chief said he was outside, holding onto the door handles when crews reached him.
A trained weather spotter reported an inch and a half of rain in the area in just 20 minutes
"I'd use the word 'buckets' full of water,” Chief Lou Hecht said.
It caused the creek to rise 12 feet in two hours.
"Just for the grace of God we're still here, and for whatever reason, as long as we're OK, I'm good with that,” Nesselhauf said.
The area hadn’t seen this type of flash flooding in 11 years, Hecht said.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.