The National Weather Service urged people to avoid travel if a flash flood warning was in place for their area.

The National Weather Service reported that multiple people had to be rescued from floodwaters in Ruidoso on Thursday afternoon.

Kansas City metro faces record rainfall and flash floods, prompting water rescues. Warnings issued for mulitple areas of the metro, including Independence, Raytown, and Blue Springs.

Flash floods are occurring across the U.S., from Texas to New Jersey. Here's what you should know as risks escalate.

Early on Thursday morning the National Weather Service's Lake Charles office announced that it would be expanding the flash flood warning that previously went as far west as Vermillion Parish to include Calcasieu, Cameron, Allen, Jefferson Davis and Beauregard parishes. The watch is in effect from 7 a.m. on Thursday to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

In Kansas City, Kansas, the right lane on westbound K-32, also known as the Kaw Valley Scenic Highway, is closed between South 78th Street and Swartz Road due to flooding. The Kansas Department of Transportation expects the lane to be closed for the next week or two, Kansas City area public information officer Delaney Tholen said.

Hundreds of New Jersey homes were damaged by flooding Monday​, and many families are just beginning the process of filing insurance claims.