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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.
Residents watch the swollen river from higher ground as floodwaters continue to inundate the campground below
Campers at Franklin Floats Campgrounds in Lesterville were forced to scramble onto the roof of parked SUVs in order to avoid being swept away by historic floods in Missouri on Friday
Some were able to wait it out in inflatable boats the campers normally use on the boating lake
Homes in Lesterville were underwater after historic flooding which saw rivers rise to record-breaking levels
More than 90 water rescues were carried out in Reynolds County, Missouri, as flash flooding overwhelmed the area. Joe Holt took this video from the air
'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 endangered first responders. During one rescue mission, a Missouri State Highway Patrol boat became entangled in a submerged line.
The two troopers aboard were forced to abandon the vessel and enter the floodwaters before both safely made it ashore without injury.
The floods came after several inches of rain fell overnight on Thursday and into the morning across a long swath of central and eastern Missouri.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings as thunderstorms piled on the area one after another, explained Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the NWS office in St. Louis.
'It's very, very popular place for recreation,' said Beitscher of the affected counties.
'So there are campgrounds there. There are float trip locations there. A lot of vulnerable populations that would be susceptible to flash flooding.'
Faith Gregory, 23, went missing after being swept into floodwaters when raging rapids deluged her Davisville home
She and boyfriend, Logan Ousley, managed to escape in a kayak. Ousley made it out of the water but Gregory has not been seen since
Little was left of 23-year-old Faith Gregory's home in southeastern Crawford County after a wall collapsed. Gregory is still missing
The Missouri State Highway Patrol were forced to deploy on inflatables
Scary scenes unfolded when one of the Missouri Highway Patrol's rescue boats became entangled in a submerged line
Dozens were evacuated from multiple campgrounds along the Black River in Lesterville. Some people were forced to climb trees to escape rising floodwaters.
One photo saw a family's camper van lying on its side as the strength of the waters tossed it aside.
Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency as the crisis escalated, activating one of Missouri's urban search-and-rescue teams while National Guard helicopters were dispatched to reach residents cut off by floodwaters.
'With additional heavy rain expected through the weekend, the threat is not over. If you're camping, floating, or spending time near rivers and streams, move to higher ground and stay alert of weather conditions,' Governor Kehoe stressed.
'Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities.'
Kehoe also issued a public service announcement as he urged all Missourians to pay attention to the weather forecast and heed warnings, particularly those on or near rivers and streams.
He said that people should have multiple ways to receive alerts, including overnight, as weather conditions change rapidly.
'Never attempt to drive through floodwaters, even if the water appears shallow. Just six inches of floodwater can sweep a person off their feet, and as little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road,' he said.
'More than half of flood deaths in Missouri are victims in vehicles. Nighttime severe weather is particularly dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. If you find yourself stranded by floodwaters, immediately call for help and seek higher ground.'
The two troopers on board were forced to abandon their boat, but fortunately, both made it to safety and were not injured
The area is home to many campgrounds and recreational areas - many were deluged by the flood
Part of a Lesterville campground looked to be underwater after the floodwaters came
Several inches of overnight rain left campers and motorists stranded across central and eastern Missouri
Roads were turned into rivers as raging floodwaters swept through the area
Many homes in Annapolis, Missouri were completely cut off by the floodwaters
A family reunification center has also been set up.
Several major roads became impassable, and authorities established a family reunification center as rescue operations continued.
Joe Holt took video of flooding in Lesterville. Footage from the air saw several major roads made impassable due to flooding and damage.
Houses were also flooded in Annapolis, Missouri as rising waters from the creek washed over roads and bridges.
Meteorologists described the deluge as a 'once-in-a-millennium' rainfall event, warning that swollen rivers would continue rising even after the rain eased, raising fears that the worst flooding may still be ahead.
At nearby Twin Rivers Landing campground, the owners described a desperate overnight rescue operation after floodwaters tore through the property with little warning.
In a Facebook post, campground owners Chris and Dave said they received an emergency warning call at 2:41am alerting them that water levels were rising rapidly.
Chris immediately went from camper to camper and cabin to cabin, pounding on doors and using a megaphone to wake sleeping families before leading a convoy of campers, trucks and cars out of the campground.
The campground at Twin Rivers Landing Campground in Lesterville, Missouri is unrecognizable as flood water takes over
A building sits partially submerged as historic floodwaters engulf Twin Rivers Landing during Missouri's devastating flash flood emergency
Heavy flooding swamps campsites and equipment after overnight rainfall sent rivers surging across central and eastern Missouri
The ice box was a victim of the floods as it floated out of the campground
Floodwaters rose so high that only the tops of flagpoles remained visible at Twin Rivers Landing after torrential rain inundated the campground
Inside the campground store, shelves remain stocked despite muddy floodwater pouring into the building during the overnight deluge
Rescuers quickly deployed inflatable rescue boats to assist
Dave remained behind as floodwaters swallowed the roads, using a backhoe to rescue guests who could no longer escape.
The campground owner told how he ferried people to the second floor of the general store while others became stranded on the roof of the lodge, on top of a bus and in waist-deep water near a garage as the flooding worsened.
According to the post, Chris then worked from the emergency command center alongside rescue officials, using detailed maps of the campground to direct first responders to trapped guests. The final rescue was completed at around 11:30am.
Photos showed buildings partially submerged, floodwaters swallowing vehicles and flagpoles, and stunned families surveying the devastation from higher ground, the campground said the destruction could be repaired.
'Campers, vehicles, buses, buildings, and equipment can all be repaired or replaced. Lives cannot,' the post read. 'Our hearts are full of gratitude that every guest was safely evacuated.'
The owners added that while the damage was extensive, they were 'blessed beyond words' that everyone escaped safely.
Route 21 at Paynes Branch in Reynolds County was partially washed away by the currents
Roads were completely deluged by the rising floodwaters making many routes impassable
The Mayor of Annapolis warned that the flash floods could come and go without warning
One family's camper van was tossed aside like a toy by the raging floodwaters
Stephanie Blechle Tooley of the Black River Rats saw this motor home floating down the river
Many homes in Lesterville are no longer inhabitable after they was deluged by the floods
The roof of a truck can be seen on the left of this photo, while a home is completely cut off by the floods
The walls of one structure were stripped away by the floodwaters
Parkland was turned into a lake as the Black River in Lesterville burst its banks
Roads became entirely impassable as the floodwaters spread wherever they could
The Missouri State Highway Patrol posted photos later on Friday of the flooding in Crawford County
The Missouri State Highway Patrol shared pictures of homes after the floodwaters subsided
Marks on the side of this house shows floodwaters went rose well above the first floor
Parts of southeastern Missouri have already picked up at least 12.25 inches of rain since Thursday.
The Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District said Highway 21 in Reynolds County sustained major damage because of the flooding and would be closed until further notice.
There is still a risk of flash flooding early into next week as the weather front continues to move slowly south and east, reports Fox Weather.