Wakarusa ? After rainwater pulled propane tanks from their moorings and caused the gas to spray, most residents of this small community left by boat Monday, joining hundreds forced from their homes by Kansas flooding.

Authorities rescued about 500 people around Topeka, many along the swollen Shunganunga and Soldier creeks in the central and northern parts of the city, said Dave Bevans, a spokesman for Shawnee County emergency operations. Many were pulled from their homes starting at 2 a.m. and the Red Cross set up a shelter inside the Kansas Expocentre convention hall.

Flooding along the Wakarusa River early Monday cut off its namesake community south of Topeka. Residents with boats rescued 22 people from their flooded homes, said Willie Peterman, a district chief for an area fire department.

The only reported death occurred Monday morning along a gravel road between Andover and Benton in western Butler County. Sheriff Craig Murphy said Richard Bonner, 58, of Benton, died when his sport utility vehicle overturned and flipped into a water-filled ditch.

The flooding closed schools Monday across Topeka, as well as St. John’s Military Academy in Salina.

Water rescues were also being reported in Burlingame, a town about 25 miles south of Topeka.