Playground equipment is stranded by flooding in Barnett Park on the banks of the Republican River this morning. City officials closed the park until further notice because of the flooding. (Grant Strunk/McCook Daily Gazette)

County and city officials met this morning at the McCook Public Safety Center to discuss options and share resources concerning the overnight deluge of rain in the area.

Unofficial reports of up to six inches of rain in a short time overnight were received, with pea-sized hail in McCook and nearly continuous lightning.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation office in McCook reported 3.55 inches of rain this morning, 2.32 at Hugh Butler Lake, 2.55 inches at Harry Strunk Lake and 1.92 at Swanson Reservoir.

The National Weather Service office at Goodland reported flash flooding throughout Northwest Kansas, Southwest Nebraska and Northeast Colorado, with hail up to an inch in diameter and tornadoes reported by law enforcement personnnel northeast of Haigler in Dundy County and also southeast of Atwood, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon called the situation potentially serious, with several county roads washed out and the continuous rise of the Republican River.

Later in the morning, officials called for boat and flotation devices to mount a possible search and rescue for a man who lives on a small island in the Republican River south of McCook.

Many county roads were washed out and water is high, near several bridges, particularly near Driftwood Creek and Republican River bridges south of town, Mahon said.

Red Willow County Deputies are out watching roads, creek levels and keeping people from stopping on the bridges, he added.

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Other areas being monitored are the dam north of town, that drains water through Kelley Creek and into Karrer Park, and Kelley Creek itself, which is flowing full but with no problems. Dan Smith of the Natural Resources District will be checking on the dam sometime today, said McCook Police Chief Ike Brown.

The city is not reporting any serious problems because of the rain and offered the use of any equipment the county may need, said City Manager Kurt Fritsch and Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff.

Storm sewers have been cleaned of debris and flooding so far has not been a problem. Sandbags are available from Furnas County if needed, officials said.

Emergency phone numbers citizens can call are (308) 345-7955 and (308) 345-5710, in addition to the normal 911 emergency numbers.

Those attending this morning's meeting were Mahon and Diana Wilkinson, co-director of Red Willow County Emergency Management, Red Willow County Commissioner Leigh Hoyt, McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham, Fritsch, Potthoff, Brown and Dob Neuhaus