Torrential rain leaves some Wichita-area drivers stranded on flooded roadways

Dozens of rescue calls came in overnight Thursday into Friday as some drivers became stalled on flooded roadways in Wichita and the surrounding area after storms pounded the region.

Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz said in an email that numerous vehicles became stalled in flooded roadways and that fire officials executed multiple rescues.

He said the department was still tabulating the total number of rescues late Friday morning. In some parts of Wichita, over 6 inches of rain fell Thursday into Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

During a county meeting Friday morning, Julie Stimson, Sedgwick County’s emergency management director, said 112 calls were made to 911 dispatch operators for flooded vehicles in the county.

In Derby, city spokeswoman Kristy Bansemer said one stranded driver was assisted by fire crews at about 2 a.m. on Friday.

“We still have streets that are flooded and we have vehicles that were pretty much abandoned overnight as folks were rescued from their vehicles,” Stimson said. “We ask that people not drive around barricades because they’re there for safety purposes.”

Stimson said part of 103rd Street near Clearwater was closed off Friday because of flooding and that a power pole could be seen floating in the water.

“Vehicles don’t run in water, yet folks keep driving vehicles through these floodwaters and they keep stalling out,” Stimson said. “What happens is the vehicles can’t get started again and we have people trapped in their vehicle and we have to send first responders to help get them out. That’s completely avoidable.”

This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 11:25 AM.