Flood Anniversary Reminds Homeowners They're Holding The Bag

Jon Jordan, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It's been almost a year since a historic flood caused Chisholm Creek to overflow its banks flooding a number of homes in Oklahoma City.

Now some residents fear debris in the creek could cause flooding again and they question who's responsible to clean it up.

The Palo Verde neighborhood which sits along the creek was one of the neighborhoods that flooded the worst.  One home belonged to Austin Lowry's family.

"I think we got about four feet of water... well, up... just about everything was damaged," Lowry said.

Oklahoma City leaders said the area was hit with a 500-year flood which compounded the problem.  Debris readily clogged the creek.

City officials have now said that the owners of the properties which adjoin the creek have the responsibility to clean up the problem.

Paul Bronson, the assistant director of the Oklahoma City Public Works department said, "Anything that's in the creek, whether it be trash, tree limbs, logs, you name it, it is the responsibility of the property owner."

If that is the case, Lower said, he would at least appreciate a little help from the city.

"It would be nice to say, 'Hey, we are going to provide this...' some type of incentive to help people have some type of incentive  to get down there."

Bronson said the only place the debris is the city's responsibility is in areas where it has made improvements to the creek.  Otherwise, the trash isn't the city's problem.

"It doesn't matter whether it is Lightning Creek, Chisholm Creek, Deep Fork Creek, Deer Creek, it's private property," Bronson said.