| Updated: 11/22/2011 11:15 am |
Published: 11/21/2011 11:01 pm
|
Neighbors living in areas notorious for flooding say they’ll be up watching the rainfall.
Homeowners in Adams Creek near 241st and Kenosha in Broken Arrow say City and Wagoner County commissioners have made efforts in the last couple of years to keep roads and homes from flooding but there hasn’t been enough rain to see if the projects have kept water out of enough homes.
Since 2008, voters have approved more than $5 million in bonds to improve flooded areas like Adams Creek. The money has created retention and detention ponds and cleaned up creeks where the homeowners associations have donated the property or the creek runs on city property.
The first hour of rain brings some drizzle to Adams Creek area. "It's frightening when you think about it,” says Pam Woods. She’s part of the Kenosha Corridor Flood Action Committee.
"At three o'clock in the morning we are out with our flashlights and our halogen lights, riding around with our hip weighters checking out the creeks,” says Woods.
Oklahoma’s drought stopped the flooding in Adams Creek.
Since then Broken Arrow officials created more retention and detention ponds and cleaned up debris in the creeks.
Currently crews are working on a regional detention pond at 91st and Oneta Road and an Adams Creek detention facility on 209th East Avenue.
Construction into Phase II at Fairway Park is scheduled in the next three to six months.
Wagoner County Commissioners just completed raising Oneta Road at 41st and put in drainage pipes.
"A lot of people who live here don't think they are affected by it until they try and get out or call emergency services and get out here,” says Steve Marx.
Earlier in the day at Marx’ home, he explains the issues around his home. Adams Creek runs through his property and floods Midway Road.
"This debris was pushed here by water and I had to rebuild my fence,” says Marx.
He says when it floods it reaches three feet inside his barn and up to eight or nine feet in the fields.
When that happens his transformer goes under and he needs to call the electric company to turn it off.
He also has to keep an eye out for any flooding to keep his horse Sunny and Ray safe. "I set an alarm every two hours and I get up and go and check the water at the bridge,” says Marx.
The city and county have made efforts to hold the water. Woods says there’s more to be done to keep homes and roads from going under water.
"Absolutely still a long way to go and we're not quitting,” says Woods.
She says she is at every weekly Monday meeting the Wagoner County Commissioners meet to remind them not to forget about keeping roads and homes safe from flooding.
The City of Tulsa released a list of flood prone streets.
North: E 56th St N, east of N Memorial Dr (Birth Creek), 2700 N Garnett (Quarry Creek), N Garnett Rd between Pine & Apache (Eagle Creek), 1700 N Mingo Rd (Douglas Creek), 100 N Garnett (Cooley Creek), 19803 E 11th ( By Creek), 6200 E 11 St between Lakewood & Oxford (Mill). Also E 56 St N, east of US 75 (Flat Rock & Bird Creeks), 4100 N Lewis between Mohawk Dr & 45 St N (Flat Rock), 1000 block N Lewis @ Burlington RR Underpass (1000 block north).
East Tulsa: S 129 E Av between 36 St & 39 St (Brookhollow Tributary),
South Tulsa: E 101 St & S Granite Ave., 7400 E 101 St (Fry), 7400 E 101 St., 121 St & S Yale (South Tribs), S Sheridan Rd between 121 St & 131 St (South Tribs), S Sheridan Rd & E 43 St., 6500-6700 S Lewis (Joe Creek), E 64 St & S Peoria.
Midtown: 2200 E 21 St (Zunis Av) (Crow Creek), E 31 St & S Yale @ BA Expressway (Upper Joe Creek).
West Tulsa: W 81 St, 1000 ft east of Elwood Av (Hager), S Elwood Av @ W 86 St (Hager).
