Almost forgotten in the drama of Hurricane Ike playing out on the Gulf Coast was the damage wrought in Oklahoma by the remnants of Tropical Depression Lowell. Severe flooding was reported after heavy rains inundated northwestern and north-central Oklahoma communities for more than two days. The Pacific storm entered the state on Sept. 11 and dropped torrential rain in Blackwell, Burlington, Fairview, Lamont and Pond Creek. Damage assessments began in Blackwell on Sept. 15 after the flooded Chikaskia River receded.
The river flooded about 250 homes, forcing an estimated 800 residents to seek shelter, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Many others were stranded in their homes as rising water surrounded them, including some who remained so on Sept. 15, said Jim Inmon, Blackwell’s emergency management director.
At its height early, the Chikaskia River measured a record depth of 35.3 feet, Inmon said. The river’s flood stage is 29 feet. The previous record flood occurred in 1998 when the river measured 34.34 feet, he said.
TD Lowell also affected south-central Kansas.
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