Clean Up Underway In Okmulgee After Heavy Flooding

The heavy rain in Okmulgee left dozens of homes with damage and the cleanup is just getting started, with some volunteer help on the way.

Two neighborhoods had significant flood damage, both of them on the west side of town, in low-lying areas where the runoff backed up. At Cleaves Memorial Methodist Church, outside, the water was shoulder high.

"At least 5 feet because I'm 6.4 and it's up to my shoulders and they had boats in here to get the people out," said Kenneth Lawrence.

On the inside, it was deep enough to float the pews, and damage just about everything inside. In the church's just renovated annex, the water buckled the floors and reached the countertops.

The freezers floated and the sanctuary is a mess. The neighbors all have damage and a few had cars float away. Church members say they have no intention of giving up now.

"We've all grown up in this neighborhood and been here all our lives," said member Vickie Fultz

Across town, a trailer park had 8 feet of water in places and much of what's left isn't salvageable. Slightly up the hill, Edward Adams is trying to dry out trucks that had water up to the seats, and into the engine.

"It was pretty bad, like we were at the lake, but we weren't at the lake. As soon as we opened the front door, we were in the water," said Adams.

A volunteer disaster team was in town on Tuesday checking the damage with plans to start helping clean out homes this Thursday.

Okmulgee County Emergency Management is taking damage reports to help coordinate the effort.

The City of Okmulgee, Okmulgee County Emergency Management, and Oklahoma Department Emergency Management, are asking anyone impacted by the rain and flooding on Monday to report flooding and storm damages online at www.damages.ok.gov. City officials say any business, ranches, homeowners, and renters should report any damage from the storm or from the flooding.