More drownings this year in Missouri than all of last year

JOPLIN (AP) - Flooded roads and waterways with stronger, faster currents have contributed to more drownings in Missouri's waterways so far this year than in all of last year, according to Missouri Highway Patrol officials.

As of Thursday, 30 drownings were reported in the state's lakes and rivers this year, compared with 29 in 2014, the patrol said. The highest number of drownings in the last five years was in 2010, when 50 people drowned.

The drownings occur primarily because people tried to drive through flooded roadways or in high water that created several dangerous conditions for people using streams and rivers, patrol spokesman Capt. John Hotz said.

May, June and July were more than twice as wet as normal - 23.17 inches of rain - particularly in southwest Missouri where many of the drownings occurred, according to Rob Frye, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield.

High waters can present such dangers as unseen trees and debris underwater. Dangerous undercurrents, particularly near low-head dams, can also create a hydraulic effect, Sgt. Jason Pace said.

"The hydraulic effect is like a washing machine. It pulls an individual under, keeps him under and doesn't allow him to surface for some time," Pace said.

A double drowning in Newton County on July 24 was caused by that effect after one man lost his footing while walking toward a dam and disappeared underwater, officials said. The other man tried to rescue him but also got caught by the undercurrent and both were swept downstream.

Other dangers include being trapped by the strong current in an overturned boat or canoe, or being swept into trees, roots or other underwater debris.

"If the water level is up into the trees along the banks, a person can be trapped underwater by branches. The current can carry you right into it," Hotz said. "It doesn't take much to get a vessel capsized when water is flowing swiftly."

Even wearing a life jacket will not help in those cases, Hotz said, as three people drowned since mid-May in southwest Missouri.

Pace urged swimmers and floaters to be aware of currents, drop-offs and floating debris at all times. He said people should not swim or float alone.

"It's a tragic situation, what we've seen in recent weeks. We certainly don't want to scare people away, but we want to educate," Pace said.