Flash flooding in Oklahoma left people stranded on flooded city streets on Monday, prompting rescue teams to conduct several high-water rescues throughout the morning. Motorists were advised to stay off the road.
Downtown Oklahoma City was heavily flooded. According to local newspaper NewsOk, most of the metropolitan area received 1 inch to 3 inches of rain per hour. Oklahoma City spokeswoman Kristy Yager said the city’s stormwater drainage system was having difficulty keeping up with the heavy rainfall. Water levels rose up to the windows in some homes.
Highways were also closed due to slow-moving traffic. Some interstates in central Oklahoma were closed due to high water.
During one high-water rescue, the rescue boat took on water and sank. The three rescue workers and the woman they tried to rescue were able to find refuge until another rescue team was dispatched. Local television station KWTV 9 was able to record the woman swimming from tree to tree until she was able to grab onto a tree limb and hoist herself out of the water.
NewsOk reported eighteen car crashes around the metropolitan area. Six patients were taken to the hospital. Motorists who were stranded in their cars called 911, four of whom were also taken to the hospital.
There were also 6,700 power outages due to the storm.
Downtown Oklahoma City was heavily flooded. According to local newspaper NewsOk, most of the metropolitan area received 1 inch to 3 inches of rain per hour. Oklahoma City spokeswoman Kristy Yager said the city’s stormwater drainage system was having difficulty keeping up with the heavy rainfall. Water levels rose up to the windows in some homes.
Highways were also closed due to slow-moving traffic. Some interstates in central Oklahoma were closed due to high water.
During one high-water rescue, the rescue boat took on water and sank. The three rescue workers and the woman they tried to rescue were able to find refuge until another rescue team was dispatched. Local television station KWTV 9 was able to record the woman swimming from tree to tree until she was able to grab onto a tree limb and hoist herself out of the water.
NewsOk reported eighteen car crashes around the metropolitan area. Six patients were taken to the hospital. Motorists who were stranded in their cars called 911, four of whom were also taken to the hospital.
There were also 6,700 power outages due to the storm.
