Purcell Woman Rescues Pets In Flood Waters

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) brought out their boat to assist with several high water rescues Sunday morning. But not everyone wanted their help. 

Pamela Kruger and her husband took it upon themselves to save their own animals.

“We're going to lose everything we own but we're not going to lose these dogs,” said George Kruger. “She has brain damage, she had a bad wreck in 2006, and that's why we're not leaving these dogs. They are too much comfort to her.”

For the Krugers, their dogs are like their kids. And Pamela would not stop until all of them were out of her home, even if it meant wading in the treacherous waters alone to get them.

“I've got one more dog I've got to go get,” said Pamela Kruger. “Those are my babies.”

Troopers and lawmen did what they could to help, but could not convince Pamela not to go back in the water. Her husband says besides dogs, they had several ducks and chickens they were raising. But he fears most of them died in the raging floodwaters.

“But I got one chicken left, if he makes it,” said Kruger

Pamela even rescued her neighbor's cat as she slowly made it back to higher ground - tired, dirty and wet, but finally safe.

But others, like Purcell business owner Justin Nimmo, were happy to receive the extra help from OHP.

"I was ready for them," said Nimmo, who owns a rent-to-own store in Purcell. "Did everything I could down there so it was time to go can't sit there and watch it float away."

Nimmo says all he was able to salvage was his checkbook from the waterlogged business.

Most of the submerged homes and businesses will have to dry out before they can even begin to assess the damage. That may be a while, with more rain in the forecast.