Severe flooding in Central USA by Matt Taylor
Torrential rainfall across parts of the US has caused severe flash flooding that has seen thousands of people evacuated from their homes. At least 17 people so far have been killed or are missing.
Over the past week continuous rain has fallen in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma flash flooding roads and causing dams to overflow. The flooding has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
The heavy rain developed from a series of low pressure systems that lingered over Texas for nearly three weeks, which combined with bands of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. In some areas up to 305mm (12 inches) of rain fell within a week.
Around 1000 homes have been severely affected or destroyed, with more damage likely in the coming days before the floodwaters start receding.
An additional hazard from the standing water in these warm and humid climates is the spread of diseases, such as West Nile virus and encephalitis from mosquitoes.
The worst of the rain is now over as the low pressure systems are moving out towards the East coast.
