Emergency Crews Respond To Flooding and Damage Throughout OKC

Emergency crews are responding to flooding and damage following severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. For the first time in history a flood emergency was declared in Oklahoma City. 

Parts of Oklahoma City received as much as eight inches of rain in the late afternoon and evening Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Damaging straight-line winds, lightning and possible tornadoes also affected the area.

The primary threat Wednesday night is rising flood waters as rain continues. Reports of flooded roadways began coming in during the early evening, particularly in south Oklahoma City.

As of 9:45 p.m., there were no confirmed reports of serious injuries in Oklahoma City, but emergency crews continued to canvass the City and respond to emergency calls.

National Weather Service officials called Wednesday night's flood threat “deadly and dangerous,” issuing a Flash Flood Emergency for the first time in central Oklahoma's history.

The flood threat will be ongoing Wednesday night and into Thursday as rain continues and the watershed drains.

Residents are urged to call 911 in the case of being stranded by flood waters. The city warns not drive, bicycle or walk into flooded areas. Also, not drive around barricades, which are erected around flooded roads for your safety and the safety of first responders.

High water reports as of 10 p.m. Wednesday:

· Near Will Rogers World Airport

· SW 149 and May Avenue

· 13700 block of S Blackwelder Avenue

· SE 119 and Sooner Road

· SW 29 and MacArthur Boulevard

· SW 36 and MacArthur Boulevard

· SW 59 and Barnes Avenue

· SW 89 and Western Avenue

· 9200 block of SW 36

· Interstate 44 at Interstate 40

· Interstate 240 at Interstate 35

· SE 29 and Oklahoma Avenue

· Parts of downtown

Damage reports as of 10 p.m. Wednesday:

· SW 44 and I-35 (damaged vehicles; downed power lines)

· SE 44 and Apollo Road (damaged recreational vehicles, campers, etc.)

Street closures as of 10 p.m. Wednesday:

· S Western Avenue from SW 89 to SW 74

If drivers must travel out of state they are urged to check area road conditions before heading out.

Arkansas 800-245-1672 www.idrivearkansas.com

Colorado 303-639-1111 www.cotrip.org

Kansas 866-511-5368 511.ksdot.org

Missouri 888-275-6636 www.modot.org

New Mexico 800-432-4269 www.nmroads.com

Texas 800-452-9292 www.drivetexas.org

Vehicle Safety

· Never drive around road barriers. They are there for a reason.

· Avoid driving during a flash flood.

· If you can't see the road, don't drive in it. Turn around and take a different route. If there is no other route, drive to higher ground and wait for the water to recede.

· Even if the water appears shallow enough to cross, don't try it. Water hides dips in the road. Worse yet, there may be no road at all under the water. Flooding can scour away the entire road and a significant amount of ground beneath.

· Six inches of water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing you to lose control or possibly stall.

· Two feet of flowing water is enough to sweep your vehicle away – including SUV's and pickups.

· Attempts to move stalled vehicles can end in drowning.

Pedestrian Safety

· Avoid walking in floodwater. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. If you must walk through a flooded area, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is solid, even where the water is not flowing.

· Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off of your feet.

· Do not play near creeks or drainage areas.

· It is not safe for anyone, regardless of your swimming ability, to swim in floodwater. Besides the danger of swift current, the water can be contaminated.

· Retention basins are sometimes used as sports fields and walking areas when the ground is dry. Avoid these areas when they are filled with water. Their primary purpose of these basins is to hold water and keep rain from flooding surrounding neighborhoods. Their secondary purpose is recreation.

· If you come in contact with floodwater, wash your hands with soap and disinfected water.

Home Safety

· Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if advised to do so.

· If water rises in your home before you evacuate, call 911 and go to the top floor or roof.