Historic levels of water released from Keystone

After a week of torrential rain, tornadoes and a mild earthquake, the biggest potential for damage to the Tulsa metro area will be flooding from the Arkansas River.

In order to save Keystone Dam, the Army Corps of Engineers increased the release of water at Keystone Dam Monday to 275,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 7 a.m. The impact heightened about noon and the Corps has announced it will continue this level (275,000 cfs) of outflow from the Keystone Dam at least through Thursday.

Bixby officials warned Tuesday that the release could go to 305,000 cfs – but that has not been stated by the Corps.

On Monday, Keystone Lake was 33.5 feet above normal. According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, Tulsa has received 7 inches of rain in the last seven days and 8.5 inches of rain in the last 10 days. The yearly total is 26.6 inches.

In all of 2018, Tulsa got only 36.14 inches of rain.

According to City of Tulsa officials, “Currently, the Keystone Dam and the Tulsa County levees are working as they should and there have been no levee breaches at this time. With the additional volume of water being discharged through the levee system, officials continue to monitor this situation. First responders are working around the clock to monitor and maintain each levee.”

Residents who live near Levee A and B should already have evacuation plans in place. Levee A is south of the Keystone Expressway/Highway 412, east of River City Park Road and west of 65th West Avenue. Levee B is between 65th West Avenue to Newblock Park and south of Keystone Expressway (Highway 412).

The City of Tulsa has already been planning for flooding levels that Tulsa experienced in 1986, when Keystone Dam release levels reached over 300,000 cubic feet per second.

If a breach in the levees occurs, a message will be broadcast over the emergency alert system. Officials highly recommend that all residents who live near Levees A and B pay attention to local officials and news coverage, listen to weather radios, be observant of local weather apps, and seek higher ground if necessary as a levee comprise would inundate the areas quickly.

The National Weather Service in Tulsa got reports of straight-line wind damage and possible tornado damage early Sunday morning in Tulsa, Sapulpa and Jenks. It confirmed an EF-1 tornado near Kellyville and in Sapulpa while there was EF-0 damage in Broken Arrow. Several tornadoes touched the ground at the same time and winds were more than 80 mph.

Officials in Sapulpa were asking residents to conserve water due to damage to a water pumping station.

Here is information about the rising flooding problem:

  • Bus transportation via Tulsa Transit has been arranged to assist residents who want to evacuate. The hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight. The self-evacuation locations are 2401 Charles Page Blvd. at Tulsa County Social Services and Cameron Street and 41st W. Avenue (Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy).
  • There are two evacuation shelters – Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Place, and Faith Church, 1901 West 171st St. in Glenpool. ADA service animals can be taken to the shelter locations. All other pets can go to the temporary shelter at Tulsa Expo Square Fairground Pavilion (south entrance) from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The temporary pet shelter at the Fairground is accepting pet food, blankets and towels.
  • For both special greenwaste collections, the City of Tulsa will make one greenwaste sweep at no cost. Residents should put their greenwaste to the curb at the beginning of the collection period since there will only be one greenwaste pass.

Greenwaste must be cut into pieces less than six feet long and 18 inches in diameter.

Greenwaste should be within four feet of the curb and not near utilities and fire hydrants. The City cannot pick up greenwaste from the curb if it is contaminated with other debris.

  • For the May 21 wind event location, residents between Peoria to Delaware Avenues, Marshall to Pine Streets from May 29 – June 2 will receive a special greenwaste collection.
  • For the May 26 wind event location, residents from Riverside Drive to Memorial Drive from 81st Street South to 111th Street South and Memorial Drive to Mingo Road from 81st Street South to 101st Street South from June 3 – June 14 will receive a special greenwaste collection.
  • The City of Tulsa Greenwaste Facility is at 2100 North 145th East Avenue and is a free greenwaste removal option. The Greenwaste site will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and the hours this week will be extended through June 1 to 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.  A current driver’s license or a recent City of Tulsa utility bill with a Tulsa address is required to use the site.
  • City crews have been removing trees and debris out of roadways from the May 21 wind event and placed dumpsters in the neighborhoods for residents to remove storm debris.

The same option is being offered for residents impacted by the May 26 wind event. The locations of the dumpsters for the May 26 storm are:

  • 5707 E. 109th Place
  • 93rd South Lakewood Avenue
  • 9711 South Darlington
  • 99th and South Irvington
  • 9737 South Joplin Place
  • 5700 East 98th Street
  • 9037 East 95th Street South
  • East 88th Place and South 90th East Avenue
  • 9711 S. 88th E. Ave.

 Greenwaste should not be placed in the dumpsters.

  • For storm debris, bulky waste fees for the two affected areas are also waived through June 28. To request a bulky waste service, call 918-596-9777.
  • From May 28 through June 1, the city will not collect recyclables due to the potential shortage of CNG due to operational challenges during the flooding event. Beginning June 3, extra recycling that does not fit in the blue recycling cart can be placed next to the cart in a cardboard box or paper sack (extra recyclables cannot be placed in plastic bags).
  • PSO reports it has no issue with ability to supply power as needed and maintain service even during a flood of record. PSO Customer needs will be met using power generation and purchases from the Southwest Power Pool.
  • The Tulsa Water and Sewer Department director reported there are no concerns with water treatment plants as a result of this flood. Precautionary measures were taken at the Southside Wastewater Treatment and Haikey Creek plants, although no flooding is expected.
  • A public sand bag location was available at Oral Roberts University Mabee Center parking lot, 7777 S. Lewis Avenue, open 24/7. Jenks had sand bags available for residents at 1701 N. Birch in Jenks.
  • As of Monday, six people had died in Oklahoma after flooding, severe storms and tornadoes. A mobile home park in El Reno, about 29 miles west of Oklahoma City, was hit.

    Two people were killed in El Reno and two people were killed in Mayes County, according to the state medical examiner’s office. A 53-year-old woman also died in Payne County and a 58-year-old man died in Stephens County, according to officials.
  • Tulsa Police are patrolling neighborhoods that have already been evacuated in the Tulsa city limits to thwart looters and keep homes secure.  Those returning to their homes where the power was disconnected are advised to call an electrician for the inspection of weather problems and for any repairs.
  • Last Thursday, the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management requested the Oklahoma National Guard provide support to affected communities in northeastern Oklahoma. As of May 26, more than 250 Oklahoma National Guard soldiers were helping, including engineers building berms to contain rising water, filling sandbags for distribution to citizens, surveying levees for sand boils, aerial search and rescue and civilian evacuation flights.
  • Some of the streets that have been closed due to flooding were:
    • South Riverside Drive from Southwest Boulevard to South HoustonWest 36th Street from South Elwood to South GalvestonWest 37th Street from South Elwood to South GalvestonSouth 61st West Avenue and West 11th StreetWest 41st Street and South Elwood IntersectionAquarium Drive below the 96th St. Bridge Part of State Highway 51 at 137th West Avenue east towards Highway 97River Parks along Riverside Drive is closed and no electricity is available along River Parks.Mohawk Park and Redbud Valley Parking areas along Riverside Dr. have been barricaded
  • Governor Kevin Stitt announced that President Donald Trump has approved the state’s request for an emergency declaration for 10 Oklahoma Counties.

Stitt requested the first federal aid and the White House approved the request less than 24 hours later.

Counties included in the emergency declaration are: Haskell, Kay, LeFlore, Muskogee, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Sequoyah, Tulsa and Wagoner.

The declaration authorizes federal resources to assist state and local governments as they continue to respond to the widespread, significant flooding. These resources may include industrial size generators, bottled water, cots and blankets.

“We appreciate the President’s prompt response to our request for federal aid and we will continue to stay in close touch with the White House and federal authorities as we try to help communities keep their residents safe from this deadly flooding,” said Stitt.

  • The Bixby Police Department on May 23 recommended evacuation for the following neighborhoods: 
    • Bixby Public Schools South (Riverview to Mingo Road)Brooks Terrace Addition (Memorial Drive)Johns Park (Mingo Road)Pecan Park (Memorial Drive)Riverview Terrace Addition (Arkansas River)Saker Addition (Memorial Drive)Southtown Estates and II (171st Street)Southwood South Addition (Mingo Road)Village Ten Addition (129th Street)Woodland Acres (171st Street)Charley Young Park Bixby Original Town (Cabanis Street, Breckenridge to Bixby Street, Bixby Street to the Arkansas River Tributary)Divine-Ellard Addition (Memorial Drive)Parkwood Apartments (Memorial Drive to Riverview)Bixby Industrial Park (151st Street)Market South Subdivision (146th Street)Morris Bright Industrial Park (146th Street)
  • Sand Springs neighborhoods that were affected by flooding included Town and Country; River View Estates; Meadow Brook Estate and Fisher Bottoms.
  • The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority had suspended tolls on a portion of the Muskogee Turnpike. For those who wish to utilize the Muskogee Turnpike, tolls will not be collected from Hwy 69 to SH 165.

Currently, no date has been set for when the OTA will begin enforcing tolls again. Suspension of tolls is only for this portion of this turnpike at this time.