The ongoing rain and flooding has turned many township roads into a muddy soup and spilled over many other county blacktops, making a growing list of roads treacherous. The deluge also prompted Barton County Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Schartz and Emergency Management Director Amy Miller to sign a “Declaration of a State  of Local Disaster Emergency.”

“Barton County, as well as a large portion of Kansas, has received a substantial amount of rain as of late,” County Administrator Phil Hathcock said. And, he said, this flooding will likely continue for the next several days.

With rainfall amounts between four and six inches since Saturday, the National Weather Service placed the entire Golden Belt under a flood watch through Wednesday morning. The forecast called for cool, sunny conditions Wednesday and Thursday with showers returning to the picture Friday and Saturday.

As a result, many township roads, as well as county blacktops, are being closed due to rising flood waters, Hathcock said. Barton County Road and Bridge Department crews are barricading roads as they become impassable. 

“Persons are asked to not drive around barricades and to avoid those roads which typically become impassable in these conditions,” Hathcock said.

The list of closed roads in Barton County will be updated periodically at www.bartoncounty.org. State road closures are available at www.kandrive.org. 

“Please do not call 911 for road conditions,” he said. For more county information, contact the Barton County Administrator’s Office at 620-793-1800.

Current closures include:

• Olmitz – Galatia blacktop – north of K-4

• NE 100 RD – east from U.S. 281

• NW 30 Avenue – north of Keystone Road to K-4

• NW 20 Avenue – north of Keystone to K-4

• NW 10 Avenue – north of Keystone to K-4

• NE 100 Road – U.S. 281 to NE 20 Avenue

• NW 50 Avenue – South of Mulligan Plant (NW 30 Road) Township road washed out – impassable.

In addition, at 8:58 this morning, the Kansas Department of Transportation issued a release stating U.S. 281 will remain closed for the time being between the bridge over Blood creek to south of the Hoisington city limit due to flooding.

Crews have been out flagging since late last night. 

Traffic is being routed on local county blacktops until the water recedes.  Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said as of Tuesday morning, traffic between Hoisington and Great Bend was being routed to K-4 to the Boyd blacktop, but it was uncertain for how much longer. Another alternate route is K-4 to K-156 between Claflin and east of Great Bend. Township roads are being closed both east and west of Hoisington as they are covered in water.  

But, water is still coming into Cheyenne Bottoms.

“Stay off gravel roads, or you’ll be sorry,” Bellendir said.  

KDOT warns, “Do not drive into areas of standing water. Turn around, don’t drown.” 

The declaration

The declaration stays in force for seven days, unless terminated or extended by the County Commission.

It reads in part “certain conditions caused, or eminently threaten to cause widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property in disaster proportion” and “such conditions created obstructions which endangered health, safety and welfare of persons and property within the border of Barton County, Kansas.” 

Miller will now file this declaration with the state. In the event Gov. Jeff Colyer signs a statewide disaster decree, the Barton County filing will make it eligible for disaster relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency if the local damage is significant enough.