Evacuations are underway as flooding impacting areas across Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and parts of Nebraska and Iowa.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is warning Arkansans about the possibility of historic flooding along the Arkansas River. Officials in Tulsa, Okla., are also urging some residents to prepare to evacuate and move to higher ground as the expected rain will threaten already stressed levees.
On Friday afternoon, water began flowed over the emergency spillway at Elk City Lake, reported in a tweet. Greenwood county authorities have called for the evacuation of residents who live below the Fall River Dam according to a local news source.
Three fatalities have been reported as a result of the flooding. One driver attempted to cross a flooded roadway in Perkins, Okla., and two other bodies were found in a submerged vehicle near the Mississippi River in Missouri.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, there are rainfall estimates of over 8 inches in the last seven days across northeastern Oklahoma, southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas."
So far this month, 10 inches of rain has soaked Tulsa, Okla. The city averages nearly 6 inches for the entire month," Pydynowski said.
Floodwaters nearly reach the top of cars in Leonard, Oklahoma by May 24, 2019.The River Spirit Casino in Oklahoma will be closed for several weeks until the floodwaters recede.
On Wednesday, two barges became loose during flooding on the Arkansas River. The town of Webbers Falls called for its 600 residents to evacuate.
The current carrying the barges off, slamming them into the Webbers Falls Lock and Dam on Thursday. They caused "minimal" damage to the dam according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but the structure held sound.
Due to the flooding and rising river levels, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson ordered two Arkansas Guard high-water teams to go to western Arkansas on Saturday. Hutchinson said he will deploy more soldiers as needed and urges residents to heed warnings and evacuate if needed.
"The area of Fort Smith, Arkansas, has not had exceptional rainfall, yet the Arkansas River stage is already above major flooding and forecast to record crest," AccuWeather Meteorologist James Andrews said.
The excessive flow comes as water from flood control lakes in Oklahoma and Kansas is released into the Arkansas River.
"One can only guess what this Arkansas River flood crest would be like without the many flood-control dams and lakes upstream to hold back at least some runoff," Andrews said.
The Army Corps of Engineers continues to release 250,000 cubic feet of water per second from Keystone Dam into the Arkansas River and this level is expected to hold steady through Sunday.
Due to the additional release at Keystone Dam, flood water is steadily rising and residents and businesses along the Arkansas River need to heed all warnings and take precautions."
Checking water levels behind upstream dams, in areas hit by heavy to exceptional rainfall, it seems that pools may be near or above design capacity [or] maxed out, so the dams are forced to pass high stream flows downstream to prevent catastrophe," Andrews said.
The flood gauge near Ponca City, Okla., on the Arkansas River crested at 22.26 feet on Friday, breaking the 1993 record of 20.11 feet.
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.
Tulsa Mayor George Theron Bynum reminded parents not to let their children run around or play in floodwaters, as it could put both them and first responders at risk.
