- Catastrophic flooding has triggered a state of emergency across parts of Missouri after what forecasters described as a 'once-in-a-millennium' rainfall sent rivers surging to historic levels.
Thousands have been placed under a flash flood emergency by the National Weather Service with crews having already carried out more than 90 water rescues, according to the Reynolds County sheriff's office.
Relentless thunderstorms dumped between six and 12 inches of rain near the Black River in southeastern Missouri, inundating roads, campgrounds and communities.
Officials warned the danger was far from over on Friday evening, with rivers continuing to rise and additional flooding expected in the coming hours. The river rose to an all-time high of 28.7 feet during the day on Friday.
At least one young woman is still missing after her home was washed away in the flood waters.
Faith Gregory, 23, vanished along with her Davisville property after a surge of water swelled the home at 3.30am on Friday morning in southeastern Crawford County.
She and boyfriend, Logan Ouseley managed to pile into a kayak and Ouseley made it out of the water but Gregory and their pets were swept away.
Her sister, Kayla Dawn, posted a desperate plea for help on Facebook saying: 'We don’t know a lot right now but what we do know is we need everyone looking for Faith. Her and her home were washed away in the storm this early morning.
'The flood was bad, storm was intense. Please everyone that lives down in Cherryville/Davisville, check the creeks, yell her name. Please help me find my sister!'
In another dramatic scene, around 20 people had to be pulled to safety after a building at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River collapsed beneath them, sending campers into the raging waters.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt Eddie Young said the group had climbed onto the structure before it gave way, forcing emergency responders to rescue them from the flood.
The extreme weather also e
