By Tom Fink and Krystal J. Carman
May 1, 2009 — Claremore shut down due to flooding Friday morning. Highways 66 and 20, along with several city streets. The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety stated 66 is closed from J.M. Davis Blvd. to Roosa both northbound and southbound. In addition, Highway 20 east from Claremore is closed. All traffic exiting the Will Rogers Turnpike at Claremore will be diverted to I-44 through Tulsa. Potent thunderstorms pummeled Rogers County and Claremore throughout the morning, creating multiple headaches for city street and emergency workers, all of whom were scrambling to keep up with a flood of reports of localized flooding and calls for assistance from motorists stranded by high water. According to Claremore Lake observers, 1.15 inches of rain had fallen in the city of Claremore by 7 a.m., but the ongoing torrent continued to cause rapid accumulations, and by 9:30 a.m. an additional three inches were reported to have fallen in a two and a half hour period, with heavy rains continuing to fall thereafter. So intense were the rains, at one point, Claremore was effectively “shut off” from outside communities, with major roads such as Highway 20 and SH 66 shut down due to flood waters. Streets within the city fared little better, with innumerable intersections, side streets and portions of major thoroughfares such as Blue Starr Drive and Lynn Riggs also being closed off due to standing water. Several side streets such as 14th Street were also closed and at 10 a.m., 9th Street was reported as “impassible.” “All of our resources are being called out this morning,” said Stan Brown, assistant chief of police, City of Claremore. “We’ve had multiple calls for assistance from motorists who were stranded by the high water and we understand the rains are expected to continue throughout the morning and much of the day.” Between 9 and 10 a.m., at least three motorists were rescued from their vehicles in flood waters. Claremore Fire Department trucks also were out in force this morning, dispatched to help block roads and discourage drivers from attempting to brave the high waters. Despite city workers’ diligence to keep storm drains clear of debris, storm waters rose quickly, to the extent than numerous residences and businesses faced flooding. By 9:30 a.m., water began entering the Rogers County Courthouse, flooding the OSU Extension office, less than a year after the same offices flooded due to high water. Shortly after the flooding began, the courthouse was closed for the remainder of the day Friday. With storms expected throughout the day, emergency workers are likely to remain busy until the waters recede. “Unless its a matter of life or death, we would greatly, greatly discourage anyone from getting out in this weather,” Brown said. Chelsea Town Administrator Kenny Weast said Chelsea streets are passible for the most part, but early Friday morning, much of the side streets in town were flooded. Some of that water had subsided by 10:30 a.m. “This morning the (Main Street) diner flooded and some other businesses had water inside too,” he said. “But the rain has let up and I think that will help.”
