Flooding in Oklahoma, April 23 to 26, 1999

Five to 7 inches of rain fell across portions of central Oklahoma from the 24th through the 26th. Local amounts of rainfall exceeded 10 inches from near Allen in Pontotoc County northeast to near Calvin in Hughes County. The worst damage from flooding occurred in Lincoln and Hughes Counties. Six county bridges were partially eroded during the flooding in Lincoln County where repair costs are estimated at a half million dollars. Bridges known to be damaged include one on SH18 near the Deep Fork River, and the Chuckaho Bridge south of Davenport. At least 2 bridges are known to have been damaged in Hughes County, one north and one south of Holdenville, where repair costs are near 300 thousand dollars. In addition to bridge damage, thousands of tons of gravel were lost and will need to be replaced. Spaulding Rd. west of Holdenville was closed on the 24th, and SH48 was closed when Little Wetumka Creek overflowed its banks. At least 10 roads are known to have been closed in Payne County during the heavy rain. These roads include SH51 west of Stillwater, Sangre Ridge south of 6th, County Club Rd. north of 6th, Western south of 12th Street, 18th St. east of Main, and Husband south of Stillwater. Two families near Stillwater also needed to be rescued by boat from the their homes. In Cleveland County, heavy rain flooded the intersection of 24th Ave NE and Franklin Road, where a woman needed to be rescued from her car which was stranded in chest high water. In Ardmore in Carter County numerous cars became stranded in high water on Sam Noble Parkway. In Tonkawa in Kay County Fountain Rd. was closed. In Shawnee in Pottowatomie County Clearpond Road just west of Acme Rd. was closed. In Choctaw in Oklahoma County, portions of NE 23rd were closed, and in Garfield County 4 miles west of Bison a vehicle was flooded out when it encountered high water from Turkey Creek. Several motorists were stranded in high water in Coal County. In Seminole County Highway 9 was reported to be covered by high water from the Salt Creek 6 miles southwest of Bowlegs, and Sportsman Lake Road near Sportsman Lake in Wewoka was also flooded. Magnolia Creek in Seminole overflowed its banks as well flooding Seminole Municipal Park.