UPDATE: Keystone Dam Continues To Release More Water

Keystone Dam is currently reading 32 feet above normal, and the release numbers are continuing to increase which means the flooding could be more wide spread downstream. 

Yesterday the Corps of Engineers said they were going to release 250,000 cubic feet per second from the Keystone Dam until Sunday and then gradually decrease that number as water levels recede

Friday Morning at 5 a.m., the dam was releasing more than 253,000 cubic feet of water per second.

The Army Corps of Engineers says this is normal because it is hard to get that number exact.

They say there is so much water coming into the dam right now, but they are trying to keep it as close to 250,000 as possible, because they know it’s having a large impact downstream.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum held a news conference Thursday and said people living along or near the Arkansas River should be aware of the larger water release and possible flooding - and be prepared to evacuate if they haven’t already.

By Friday morning the inflows, meaning water coming into the dam, were reading at 306,000 cubic feet per second.

But, unfortunately, those inflows could go up even higher if we get any more rain this weekend.

US Senator James Lankford had a chance to tour Keystone Dam Friday morning and says he was happy to see the dam functioning as normal. He says it’s in great shape and it’s doing everything it’s supposed to do.

“People just need to know that amount of water that’s coming out 250,000 cubic feet per second will be the flow for the next four days. Because they have to bring the pool down but there’s a lot more coming in than there is coming out but they’ve got to keep this level of flow for about four days,” said Senator Lankford.

Senator Lankford is spending his day in Tulsa touring some of the areas impacted by flooding and is also looking to visit shelters and talk with people who had to evacuate.

“This is going to be another four days that the Corps. has to release these levels so what you are seeing now is what you are going to see for the next four days,” said Senator James Lankford. 

Senator Lankford is encouraging people to listen to emergency management directors and their local police and fire departments and also check on neighbors during this time.

“Oklahomans watch out for their neighbors.” Said Senator Lankford. “Before FEMA gets there, before state resources get there, before local gets there, your neighbor gets there and that’s what we want to see. Neighbors taking care of neighbors.”

Friday morning Senator Lankford and Tulsa City Officials are holding a news conference at 10 a.m. to give an update on current conditions.

River and flooding maps: 

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home

https://www.cityoftulsa.org/rivermaps

http://maps.cityoftulsa.org/MapGallery/