Month: March 2019

Flood warning issued for Thursday for Kansas River in KCK

A flood warning has been issued for the Kansas River at 23rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday. The river is projected to go into the minor floor stage. These forecasts are subject to change. This location is near Kansas Avenue in Armourdale. (National Weather Service – USGS graphic)

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Thursday for the Kansas River at 23rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

Minor flooding is forecast. The flood warning will be in effect Thursday afternoon through late Saturday night, according to the weather service. The forecast changed from this morning, after rainfall.

At 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, the Kansas River at 23rd Street was at 31.2 feet, at a place where flood stage is 33 feet, the weather service stated. This location is at Kansas Avenue in the Armourdale area, at the state line.

The Kansas River is forecast to rise above flood stage by early Thursday afternoon and continue to rise near 33.7 feet by Friday morning, according to the weather service.

The river is projected to fall below flood stage by Saturday.

At 33 feet, undeveloped woodland along the river and outside of levee protection is flooded. No flooding of areas behind the levees is expected, the weather service stated.

Wyandotte County also is under a flood warning from the area of the Missouri River at Parkville, until March 26, according to the weather service.

Moderate flooding is occurring at Parkville, Missouri, across from Kansas City, Kansas. The Wolcott levees in Kansas City, Kansas, will be at risk of overtopping at 32 feet and 32.5 feet, according to the weather service. The Missouri River was at 29.6 feet Tuesday morning. The Missouri River may rise to 33.4 feet by Friday morning.

The Missouri River at Kansas City is not under a flood warning at this time, and is in the action stage. At this time, it is projected to rise to 31.9 feet on Friday, where 32 feet is flood stage. It is currently at 29.36 feet.

All river level projections are subject to change, depending on the flow from upstream and also upon rainfall.

Residents are asked not to drive through flowing water. As little as 6 inches of water can cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle. Two feet of water will carry most vehicles away.

For more information, visit https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=eax&wwa=flood%20warning.

Blood drive planned March 27

An American Red Cross blood drive is planned on March 27 at Donnelly College, 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The blood drive will take place from 1 to 5 p.m.

According to a spokesman for the Red Cross, donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this spring. Cancer patients, for example, often are in need of red blood cells and platelets.

Those interested in donating may make an appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, accessing the Red Cross blood donor app at www.redcrossblood.org/bloodapp or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Lieutenant governor familiar with rural Kansas

by Murrel Bland

Lynn Rogers was a banker who traveled the state of Kansas as an employee of the Farm Credit Bank. He was also a vice president with CoBank Farm Credit Leasing. He is familiar with the challenges of rural Kansas.

Rogers, a Democrat who is lieutenant governor of the state of Kansas, was the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, March 15, at Children’s Mercy Park. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the forum.

Some 70 percent of Kansas counties have lost population in recent years. Rogers now heads a newly created Office of Rural Prosperity. He will focus on expanding opportunities in rural communities by working with farmers, ranchers, business owners and health professionals in these communities.

One of the concerns in rural communities, particularly in western Kansas, is the diminishing Ogallala aquifer. Rogers told of using modern technology to monitor irrigation water more economically.

One of the main concerns in small Kansas communities is health care, particularly access to a hospital that is reasonably close. Rogers said that the solution will be accepting federal Medicaid dollars — something that previous Republican administrations rejected. Rogers said that in many cases, acceptance of Medicaid funds could make the difference in hospitals having adequate funds to stay open. Rogers said such funds would also help hospitals in urban areas. Medicaid funds would help cover those patients without medical insurance.

Rogers said that infrastructure will be a priority in the state. He noted that Kansas City, Kansas, is moving ahead with flood control projects that will affect the eastern area of the city.

Rogers was a state senator from Wichita before becoming lieutenant governor earlier this year. He served on the Wichita Board of Education for seven years. He and his wife Kris are the parents of three adult children—Kyle, Kelsey and Keegan.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.