By BOB GIBBINS
Given the weather lately in Cherokee County, it should come as no surprise to anyone that May is Flood Awareness Month in Oklahoma.
Gov. Brad Henry has designated May Flood Awareness Month, and severe weather visited the area again Wednesday night. The county has experienced several inches of rain recently, and FEMA representatives were in Cherokee County Wednesday, looking at damage.
The Associated Press reported earlier this week that a boat ramp, the handicap accessible fishing dock, some roads and six sites in the Cherokee campground at Cherokee Landing are closed due to high water.
Only half of the campsites are reported to be available at Sequoyah Bay State Park, and at Tenkiller State Park, some tents sites at the Fisherman’s Point and Hickory Flat camgrounds are submerged.
Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Gary Dotson said floodwaters shouldn’t be taken lightly. He said some rescues have already had to be made when people drove into water crossing city streets and county roads.
“It doesn’t take much water at all to cause a vehicle to start floating,” he said. “You might think you can make it across, but it may be deeper or rolling faster than you realize.”
Dotson said the best thing to do is to follow the advice of “Turn Around Don’t Drown” when approaching water across a roadway.
Duane Smith, executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, said in a press release that heavy rains and severe storms typically occur in the early spring.
Henry proclaimed March as “Flood Insurance Month” as part of a campaign to alert residents about the availability of flood insurance.
Gavin Brady, state floodplain manager, backs up Dotson’s warning against driving through floodwaters. He said about half of all flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles.
“We’ve already had some flooding incidents in Tahlequah and on the northern part of the county this season,” Dotson said. “The way the season’s going, it looks like we could have some more.”
He encourages residents to purchase a weather radio and/or a scanner to listen to local watches and warnings.
