KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – A fire department in Kansas City, Missouri responded to 11 water rescue calls throughout the area on Fourth of July morning.

An overnight downpour of rain flooded several creeks and rivers onto roadways and near homeless camps.

Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said dispatchers reported the water rising up to as high as 22 feet and rising overnight as of 6:30 a.m.

There was a significant save in the area of Hardesty Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard where three homeless individuals from a camp near the Blue River woke up flooded with terror.

“They were sleeping and woke up to water in their tents and noticed that some of those that live there with them were gone, had been swept in the water, and they were hearing shouts for help,” said Hopkins.

Two of them were saved, but the third person is still unaccounted for. Hopkins said witnesses claim they are out of the water downstream but have not confirmed that.

“We’re continuing to search because there is an inline pipe that runs under Hardesty – that if they are still in the water, they can potentially get caught up in there so we’re doing our due diligence just to make sure.”

They hope that is the situation that this person is safe.

“We don’t want to leave anybody behind or stranded so we’ll continue to look and if that individual is out of the water – hopefully they’ll come and let us know,” Hopkins said.

A lot of drivers tried to maneuver around the wet roadways, with some trying to barrel through water despite warning signs on or beside the road. Some drivers were unlucky, getting stuck, and ultimately waiting for water rescues of their own.

Hopkins said to immediately call 911 if others begin to experience this.

“You never know what’s under the water. Storm drain covers can come off and that can be a deadly situation if you’re walking, and you’re not going to be able to see it. We would advise just don’t drive in the high water,” said Hopkins. “Particularly if there’s already barricades set up. The water department does that for a reason. We know there’s going to be high water there, we put the barrier there.”

Fire crews continued to make their way back to heavy-hit spots around the metro area to follow up on their morning checks.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating a Thursday afternoon shooting death.

Police say the shooting took place just before 3 p.m. near East 69th Street and Brooklyn Avenue.

One person died in the shooting, per KCPD.

No word on what led to the gunfire.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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