Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency Update – 6:30 p.m.

5/23/2019

May 23, 2019, 6:30 p.m. - The Army Corps of Engineers is now releasing 250,000 cubic feet of water per second from Keystone Dam into the Arkansas River with the expectation that the Corps will leave it at this rate through Sunday, May 26. 

The updated maps for the 250,000 release level and for planning purposes of 305,000 cubic feet per seconds can be found at www.cityoftulsa.org/rivermaps

On the flood maps available on the City’s website, the overlay shows interstate and highway covered by flood water. Those roads are currently NOT closed, this is just a product of the method in which the flooding overlay was placed on the source map. Road closures will be announced as this event continues.

There are several road closures and inaccessible areas in and around the Keystone Dam in Sand Springs and western Tulsa County. Additionally, areas around Riverside Drive near downtown Tulsa, South Elwood Avenue near 51^st Street, and the Cherry Hills neighborhood are experiencing increasing water levels. 

Due to the additional release at Keystone Dam, flood water is steadily rising and residents and businesses along the Arkansas River need to remain vigilant and take precautions.

Based on the release rates happening now, the updated water levels should reach south Tulsa County by midnight. The main concern in the southern portion of the City of Tulsa is the area between 115^th Street South and 121^st Street South. Many residents there have self-evacuated, but all others in this area should prepare to leave their homes. All evacuated areas are being monitored by the Tulsa Police Department. In Bixby portions of Memorial Drive between Highway 64 and 161^st Street are closed as well as portions of Mingo Road and Garnett Avenue in Bixby.

River Parks along Riverside Dr. is closed and no electricity is available along River Parks. All residents should stay out of the water, adhere to traffic diversions, and maintain a close watch on children. The Tulsa Police Department has already had to remove people from the areas along the Arkansas River, especially near Tulsa River Parks and the River Parks Trail. 

PSO has already disconnected power from more than 400 homes along the Arkansas River in Tulsa County and there is the possibility more will be disconnected in the coming hours.

Once evacuated, residents might not be able to get back to evacuated areas for a week or longer.

All residents in Tulsa County with questions or concerns related to this flooding event or evacuations can call 211, 24/7. 211 will also be equipped to take damage assessments and answer questions about donations to those affected by these floods.

There is an evacuation shelter at Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Place and Tulsa Animal Welfare advises those with ADA service animals can take them to this location. All other pets can go to the temporary shelter at Tulsa Expo Square Fairground Pavilion (south entrance) from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. The temporary pet shelter at the Fairground is accepting pet food, blankets and towels.

Residents should go indoors and tune to local media to seek more information. It is highly recommended that all people who live near the Arkansas River pay attention to local news coverage, listen to weather radios, be observant of local weather apps, and seek higher ground if necessary.

It is recommended residents living in affected neighborhoods along the Arkansas River and in a 100-year floodplain should:

• Prepare immediately for evacuations.
• If you leave your home, take all electric precautions by switching off the main breaker to electricity and disconnect any emergency power system, like generators. 
• Have a packed bag with prescriptions and clothing for a multiple-day period
• Charge your cell phones and place them in low-power mode, put valuables in a higher place, bring your pets with you
• Leave your home with important identification for you and any members of your family and take videos/pictures of your home for insurance purposes 
• If you are an evacuee or someone you know is evacuated and requires home health care and/or in-home hospice care, you need to let your health care agency know where you are sheltering so you can continue to receive services.
• It is important to have a two-week supply of prescription medication on hand and ready if/when you evacuated. In addition, have copies of all prescription medication with dosage, prescribing doctor, and pharmacy. This includes mental health medications. Communicate this message with those in your life who may need assistance with this. 

• Communicate with members of your family who need to take these precautions but have physical limitations that may prevent them from doing so.

• For safety’s sake, assume that any downed utility line is energized with deadly electric current.  Stay away from the line and do not touch it with anything.  Report it to PSO at 1-888-218-3919.

Follow the City of Tulsa on Twitter @cityoftulsagov and visit www.cityoftulsa.org for updates. Live feeds from news conferences are available on the City of Tulsa Gov Facebook.

The City of Tulsa website has a Google translator that can translate all web pages in more than 121 languages. The City of Tulsa is also adding translations of this briefing in various languages to the City’s Facebook page when available.