More rain ahead?


Eleven months after historic spring floods devastated many Ozark County roads and bridges, weekend rains brought high water that again caused closures like this one on the Highway 181 bridge over Bryant Creek near Hodgson Mill. MoDOT reopened the roadway Monday morning. Photo courtesy of Michael Huntsman.

After a protracted dry spell that had many area residents using the word “drought,” the first part of the weekend brought as much as 6 inches or more of rain in some parts of the county. The deluge filled streams to overflowing, reminding many of the historic floods that swept through the area 11 months ago, destroying bridges and wreaking havoc on county roads. 

Ozark County commissioners told the Times Saturday night that most county roads with low-water crossings were probably submerged and warned residents to be cautious if traveling. No injuries were reported, but at least one vehicle was abandoned in the rising waters of Little Creek on County Road 950 near Foil.

Haskins Ford and “Steel Tracks” crossings remained submerged Monday on the west side of the county, according to western commissioner Greg Donley.

On the east side, Bryant Creek rose over the Highway 181 bridge at Hodgson Mill and Warren Bridge on County Road 328. Patrick Bridge on H Highway where it crosses the North Fork of the White River was also underwater, and  Eastern commissioner Gary Collins said the river was “sloshing at the bottom of the bridge at Dawt” on County Road 318. Most crossings had reopened by Monday. 

Residents were happy to see the sun shine again as the week began, but at midweek, the forecast included the possibility of more rain coming this way in the week ahead.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423