Oklahoma, Arkansas face ‘worst flood in our history’
Rivers rising rapidly, forcing evacuations
Oklahoma and Arkansas confronted their worst flooding ever Monday as a new wave of storms rolled through the region and threatened to further bloat the Arkansas River that already has reached record crests in some areas.
Tornadoes, high winds, hail and heavy rain were possible, forecasters said. The storms were the latest to rip through the region over the past two weeks, leaving at least nine dead and a trail of damage.
In Tulsa, the Oklahoma National Guard was patrolling the city’s stressed levee system.
“The levee system is still operating as designed,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said Monday. But he said that could change: “We are asking for everyone to prepare for the worst-case scenario ... the worst flood in our history.”
Bynum urged residents near the levees to “proactively relocate,” and the city has opened multiple shelters. He said authorities were reviewing how such flooding would impact the city’s infrastructure.
The river is forecast to reach a record crest Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Tulsa increased its releases of water from the Keystone Dam, adding to the flooding downstream in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the river already surpassed its historic crest Sunday.
Some residents were forced to evacuate. Fort Smith Mayor George McGill said the city is experiencing record flooding, and high-water rescues were underway.
McGill warned residents to be careful traveling around the city. But he said residents are known for their grit and expressed confidence the city would overcome and thrive.
“It’s a sight that we’ve never seen before, but just like we recovered from other record-breaking floods we will recover from this,” McGill said. “There is nothing you can do about Mother Nature.”
Scattered storms were forecast through Tuesday before the region sees a possible respite. But it might not last long.
“There are early indications this weather pattern could return next weekend and into the following week with more rounds of severe weather across the central U.S,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.