The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Wyandotte County through 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)From 2 to 3 inches of rain are possible through Thursday morning in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)Multiple accidents were reported on I-635 near Swartz Road on Wednesday morning in heavy rain. Motorists should avoid areas where there is high water. (KC Scout photo)
A flash flood warning has been issued for Wyandotte County and surrounding areas from 8:38 a.m. Wednesday through 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Other counties in the Kansas City metropolitan area also are under the flash flood warning.
The weather service said radar and rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the area at 8:38 a.m. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen Wednesday morning.
Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected, and flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, the weather service said.
Kansas City, Kansas and Bonner Springs are among the many locations that will experience flash flooding, according to the weather service. Motorists should turn around and avoid areas where there is high water.
According to the weather service forecast, periods of moderate to heavy rain will continue Wednesday into Wednesday evening. Severe weather is not anticipated.
Ongoing minor to major flooding in the area could be aggravated, according to the weather service. As of 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Missouri and Kansas rivers in Wyandotte County were well below the action stage and flood stage.
Rain is expected into Thursday morning, but it will taper off through the day, leading to dry wether Friday through Sunday, the weather service said.
Today, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and a thunderstorm, mainly before 5 p.m., then more showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m., the weather service said. Some storms could prduce heavy rain. The high will be near 81 with a light southeast wind. Between three-quarters and one inch of rain are possible.
Tonight, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 69 and a calm wind, according to the weather service. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain are possible.
Thursday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m., with a high near 84, the weather service said. A calm wind will become northeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.
Thursday night, it will be mostly clear and the low will be around 65 with a northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be sunny, with a high near 83 and a calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph in the morning, the weather service said.
Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 62, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 85, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 64, according to the weather service.
Sunday, Independence Day, it will be sunny, with a high near 87, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 68, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 90, the weather service said.
Monday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 70, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 91, the weather service said.
A free mobile vaccine clinic is planned from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at Carl B. Bruce Middle School, 2100 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
The clinic is the result of a partnership of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools and the Unified Government Public Health Department.
All those ages 12 and older may attend and get a free COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic. The clinic is open to the public.
The Health Department is offering the two-shot Pfizer vaccine and one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine at the event. Masks are required at the event.
The mobile vaccine unit will return in three weeks to administer the next round of the vaccine for those who get the Pfizer shot.
This event is for those who need either their first shot or second vaccine. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Those who are vaccinated will receive free meal vouchers for the food trucks on site, and ice cream will be offered to those attending.
Also, those who get vaccinated can register to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards to be given away. There also will be one grand prize of a $500 Visa gift card.
Those attending the family event June 30 also may learn about job openings at the school district, get a free backpack, food boxes and learn about offerings of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library.
Swope Health is providing a mobile dental vehicle on-site to give children free screenings and offer fluoride.
Doctors urge everyone to get vaccinated
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, said he thinks schools will be safer this fall, even with the Delta variant, as long as adults and children 12 and older are vaccinated. He made his remarks at the KU Health System Tuesday morning media update.
He said approval for those younger than 12 to be vaccinated could be announced just before the start of school in the fall. Also, Dr. Hawkinson said masking indoors is still necessary for those who have not been vaccinated.
With the World Health Organization’s recent announcement that people should continue wearing masks because of the rapid spread of the Delta variant, the doctors said they felt the advice may not apply to everyone. The guidance was for the entire world, including areas of low vaccination, but the situation could be different in areas of high vaccination. According to the doctors, Springfield, Missouri, could be facing restrictions after an outbreak of the Delta variant there.
The Delta variant has grown from 10 percent of new infections a month ago to 65 to 70 percent of cases today. The experience in Springfield shows a need for more people in the Kansas City area to get vaccinated.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health System, said it was important for everyone to make good choices on the Fourth of July weekend, as “making good choices brings tomorrow to you in a way that you can enjoy it, as opposed to suffering.” He said people should take care of themselves and those they love by getting vaccinated and staying safe.
Free COVID-19 vaccines available
The Unified Government Health Department’s central vaccine location at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., will be open to those age 12 and older from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 30. Walk-ins will be accepted.
Free childhood immunizations are available for middle school and high school students from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in June at the former Kmart facility, 7836 State Ave. Transportation is available. For more information, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-vaccines-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/.
Hours now through July 2:
• Kmart site (7836 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas) o Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. – vaccine and testing incentives available. • Armory site (100 S. 20th St, Kansas City, Kansas) o Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. – vaccine and testing incentives available.
Hours beginning the week of July 5: • Kmart site (7836 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas) o Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – vaccine and testing incentives available. • Closed: Armory site (100 S. 20th St, Kansas City, Kansas Mobile vaccines can still be requested online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1 (913-573-5311).
Other sites available for vaccinations
Vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make an appointment to get vaccinated. KU Health System currently is vaccinating residents of Kansas and Missouri who are 12 or older, by appointment only. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the appointment.Other sites available for vaccinations
There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).
CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.
Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov. The website also tells whether vaccines are in stock at the locations.
Case numbers reported
There were 13 active COVID-19 patients on Tuesday morning at the University of Kansas Health System, an increase of one from Monday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Five patients were in the intensive care unit, an increase of one from Monday. Four of those patients were on ventilators, an increase of one from Monday. One very sick patient is on an ECMO device. Eight other COVID-19 patients were still hospitalized but were out of the acute phase, a decrease of one since Monday. There were a total of 21 COVID patients, the same number as Monday. Dr. Hawkinson said there has not been a COVID-19 related death in the KU Health System since June 19.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 12 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, June 29, for a cumulative 19,065 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 299 deaths reported, no change.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 177,259 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Tuesday in the Kansas City region. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 57.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 317,651 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Monday, June 28, an increase of 347 cases since Friday. There was a total of 5,15o cumulative deaths reported statewide. According to KDHE figures, Johnson County had a cumulative 59,824 COVID-19 cases on Monday, June 28, an increase of 66 since Friday. Sedgwick County had a cumulative 57,953 COVID-19 cases on Monday, June 28, an increase of 51.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday night 33,652,098 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 604,474 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 15,083 new cases nationwide and 150 new deaths nationwide. States with high numbers of new cases were California, 1,621; Arkansas, 966; Louisiana, 942; Nevada, 915; and North Carolina, 864.
Countries with high numbers of new cases were India, 37,566; Colombia, 28,478; Brazil, 27,804; United Kingdom, 22,723; and U.S., 15,083, according to Johns Hopkins information.
Free testing available
Free COVID-19 testing is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., through the UG Health Department.
Free COVID-19 testing also will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the Vibrant Health Cordell D. Meeks Jr. Clinic, formerly Children’s Mercy West, 4313 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Vaccines also will be available there Wednesday.
Besides Health Department sites, free COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Wyandotte County.
The Kansas City Monarchs plan to return home and open a six-game homestand and three-game series with the Sioux Falls Canaries Tuesday was shelved owing to the weather and field conditions at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
Nothing short of a large umbrella in a shape of a dome would have saved the field from the heavy water that has come over Kansas City during the last 24 hours.
Instead of playing a new brand of baseball with water hazards as part of the action, the teams will play a double header of two seven-inning games Wednesday starting at 5 p.m., with the gates opening at 4 p.m.
If fans purchased tickets for Tuesday’s game, they can be exchanged for Wednesday’s game or for any future 2021 regular season home game. To exchange tickets, fans can either call the Box Office Wednesday starting at 10 a.m. at 913-328-5618 or exchange them in person at the Box Office. For fans holding tickets for Wednesday night, those tickets are good for both games.
The gates will open at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Legends Field in KCK. The games can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 4:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.
Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.
