By John Dobberstein, Editor
Waves of thunderstorms and heavy rain over the last couple of days led to major flooding in parts of Broken Arrow and Wagoner County this week, which has left many residents — especially in more rural areas — wondering what more can be done to prevent it.
A round of storms that arrived on Tuesday not only caused flooding but saturated soils, setting the stage for more problems Wednesday. About 4 inches of rain fell in Broken Arrow Wednesday in just a few hours, bringing the 2-day total to more than 6 inches of rain — and 10.5 inches of precipitation this month.
In Broken Arrow, very high water led to Aspen Avenue being closed south of 91st Street. Just south and west of the intersection, the Broken Arrow Fire Department responded to a rescue call at about 10:30 a.m. after fast-moving flood water barreled down Boston Street from Aspen.
Another water rescue was called in to firefighters on West Washington Place, just south and west of Elm Place and Washington Street.
The fire department issued a public message that residents should consider staying indoors for their safety and not travel unnecessarily until the rain slowed. BAFD spokesman Jarrett Hardwick said firefighters responded to calls where motorists were caught in rising water on streets and assisted them from their vehicles.
“With the torrential rain in a very short amount of time, city and neighborhood streets quickly became overwhelmed with water,” Hardwick said. “Thankfully, the water receded quickly.”
Steve Ortman of Broken Arrow posted a video of raging flood waters Wednesday morning near County Line Road and 114th Street that turned the road into a veritable river.
Twice in 3 Months
In eastern Broken Arrow and Wagoner County, flooding issues appeared to be more widespread. In anticipation of problems Wednesday, Wagoner County Emergency Management posted a list of areas “historically prone to flooding” on social media and asked residents and drivers to use “extreme caution” in those areas.
The list included areas along S. 257th East Avenue at 31st Street, 51st Street and State Highway 51; State Highway 104 and State Highway 51b; E. 111th Street at S. 209th East Avenue; E. 51st Street and S. 209th East Avenue; S. 273rd East Avenue and E. 41st Street, S. 305th East Avenue from 11th to 71st Street; E. 51st Street and S. 217th East Avenue, and State Highway 72.
In the Spencer Acres subdivision near E. 141st Street and S. 225th East Avenue, some residents are fuming over repeated major floods this past spring. Kalyn Sisco and Tesha Sisco shared videos of floodwater inundating ditches and washing over the curbs Tuesday, which flooded numerous homes along 141st Street.
Many residents in the subdivision have said the flooding has gotten worse since new neighborhood was built across the street. Tesha Sisco said she had contacted engineers over stormwater management for Wagoner County about the flooding last year but never received a response.
Another resident, Chris Pearce, said on Facebook he’d amassed more than $20,000 in damages to his property.
To the north, Tonya Wolfe of Broken Arrow said on Facebook that Oneta Road, Evans Road, Midway Road, Oak Grove Road and Ben Lumpkin Road near E. Kenosha Street were all closed Tuesday due to flooding.
“You want to know what would be so very cool? If leaving our house trying to come home wasn’t dangerous as hell when it rains hard,” Wolfe said. “Something has to be done about Adams Creek in (northeast) Broken Arrow and more importantly the roadside ditches and swales.”
Brandy Slater-Carter said she suspects Wagoner County no longer has a licensed engineer to handle floodwater management studies and those proposing building projects must hire their own independent licensed engineers to do needed reports.
“Who’s looking out for the best interest of those that will be affected, not the builders and developers that, once their last lot is sold in their brand-new shiny development, won’t be held accountable?” Slater-Carter wrote on Facebook. “Is there someone looking out for the little guy? Someone not profiting off it somewhere down the line?”
Best Practices Followed?
Josh Stenros of Broken Arrow, recently elected to the District 1 seat on the Wagoner County Commission, doesn’t take office for another 6 months but said he’s been driving through the district taking notes and photos of flooding problems, especially in the Adams Creek Watershed.
Patrick Sampson, who faces a runoff election for the District 3 seat, said he drove through Coweta, Broken Arrow, Oneta Farms, the 141st Street area and voiced a need for more proactive solutions.
He believes that should include proper drainage studies before development occurs, adequately sized detention and retention facilities, regular inspection and maintenance of drainage systems and development plans that consider downstream impacts on existing neighborhoods and property owners.
“Flooding isn’t always just the result of heavy rainfall. In many cases, it can be influenced by inadequate drainage infrastructure, undersized culverts and tin horns, insufficient detention capacity, poor maintenance or developments that fail to account for the natural flow and topography of the land,” Sampson posted on Facebook.
“When water backs up into homes, garages, roads, businesses, and pastures, the impacts can be significant damaging property, displacing families, affecting livestock, and creating dangerous travel conditions. Growth is important, but it must be balanced with responsible planning.”
State Sen. Christi Gillespie (R-Broken Arrow) suggested post-inspections for dirt work and retention after projects are built out to verify the work is performing as it should.
“Even if the engineer designs everything perfectly, there seems to be a point where something goes awry with many of these developments,” Gillespie said. “At least having post inspections can begin to narrow down the issue. Developers won’t like this suggestion because it’s costly, but we have got to figure out all the flooding.”
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