Rains Flood Missouri, Cut Off Electricity

Heavy thunderstorms moved across Missouri Thursday, drenching the state with several inches of rain that flooded roads and apartments and cut electricity to thousand of homes.

In the Kansas City area, almost seven inches of rain that fell during four hours flooded streets and creeks. About 12,000 customers lost electrical power during the storms, utility officials reported.

Residents along the Blue River in Kansas City were advised to evacuate because severe flooding was expected. Authorities set up an office in a nearby hotel to help residents find temporary lodging.

Police officers and firefighters rescued stranded motorists in the Plaza and Westport areas of Kansas City and in Mission, Kan., where a firefighter trying to rescue two motorists from high water became trapped. Westwood, Kan., had 6.6 inches of rain, the National Weather Service said.

At least two tornadoes swept through the small town of Hardy, Neb., near the Kansas border Thursday night but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Tornadoes also were spotted near New Raymer, Colo.