Flooding, evacuation impacts Butler County, surrounding areas

As of recently, many thunderstorms swept through Kansas on Tuesday, June 3. This triggered flash flooding that forced evacuations in El Dorado and surrounding communities.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Butler County, including El Dorado, Andover and Augusta, was effective until 11:00 PM CDT.

In El Dorado, the West Branch Walnut River reached 25.2 feet on Tuesday afternoon, surpassing the flood stage of 21.0 feet. The river was to crest at 29.9 feet that evening before receding overnight. Floodwaters have inundated roads and low-lying areas, prompting emergency crews to conduct water rescues and issue evacuation orders.

Residents in the Riverview area including the Walnut River Apartments and neighborhoods from Topeka to Lawndale, and from 8th Street to McCollum were advised to evacuate. The Riverside area on North Main Street between 8th and 12th avenues were also affected. Emergency shelters have been established at the Butler County Community Center, located at 206 N. Griffith, and Temple Baptist Church, located at 925 Douglas Road.

The Butler County Emergency Management expanded evacuation efforts with crews going door-to-door in the northernmost parts of El Dorado to assist residents. In Wichita, similar flooding led to submerged vehicles and additional water rescues.

For real-time updates and safety information, residents are encouraged to monitor local news outlets and official emergency management channels. As these weather events unfolded, the Butler community has come together to support one another.

Butler CC has reached out to employees impacted by the flooding and is helping through BEACIN, also known as Butler Employees Assisting Colleagues in Need, to help cover unexpected basic expenses. If others are able to help replenish it and support college employees facing unanticipated hardship, contributions are appreciated. To donate or learn more, please contact Tiffany Rhodes, assistant director of Human Resources (HR) at trhodes3@butlercc.edu.

Cari Manderino, an El Dorado resident, said that the water rose very quickly. Within an hour, she witnessed a car get pulled out at the end of the block (Fredrick and Towanda). It came to her attention that El Dorado was unaware of the rising waters when a neighbor on the evacuation bus said he had called 911, and they sounded surprised. When the rescue team knocked on her door and asked if they were going to stick it out or evacuate, Manderino said, "Let's go.” Manderino has a special needs son, and she was worried he wouldn't go to the roof if it had come to that.

“We were told to gather 'essentials,' but I also have three cats,” Manderino said. “One cat refused to go, so I put a bowl of food on my bed since she was hiding under it. My youngest son, who was here helping me on our mutual day off, helped get the other two cats in the carrier. I had a bucket with a bag of food and a bag of treats. I was able to get two duffle bags with our

electronics, some underwear, socks, a couple pair of sweats and t-shirts. Our toothbrushes, some yogurt, applesauce, a bag of mixed nuts and all the cash I had on hand.”

Manderino and her sons were taken to the Community Center/ 4-H building and remained at this site for three hours. According to her, the city or location didn’t seem prepared, which was disappointing. When they got there, they were cold and wet, they had no towels, no blankets and nothing to eat. Her sons and Manderino walked across the street to a gas station to get a few things.

“The water got to be chest high in my basement,” Manderino said. :I've lost about 100 books. I haven't gotten very far because so much, like the books, are going to the trash, and I don't have enough trash cans to get it all out at once. My washing machine doesn't work, so cleaning up is going to be even more difficult. The city was here today to clean up the mud from the street, that was nice. Neighborhood mailboxes are gone and a couple of lamp posts. It's a big mess, and I have to find someplace else to live. The smell of the mud and dampness is very distracting when I try to sleep.”

A Multi-Agency Resource Center, located at 200 N. Griffith, has opened to help with those who experienced loss from the flooding. Operating hours include Tuesday, June 10 from 2 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, June 11 from 2 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.