Green Country Drivers Have Trouble In Heavy Rainfall

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Sheridan Road was shut down at 43rd Street due to flooding, according to Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Bill French. About two feet of water covered the roads.

In several areas during the heavy rain early Thursday evening, cars and flood waters proved a dangerous mix.

At 85th and Harvard, a driver drove into deep water that was about two feet over the road. Flood waters floated the car into a ditch, but the driver escaped uninjured, French said.

Other problem areas were the intersection of 48th Street South and 36th West Avenue.

Tulsa Fire officials say water rescue is the second most often performed rescue for their department.

The City of Tulsa has also released a list of the city's most frequently flooded streets.

• 4300 South Sheridan
• 18500 East 41st Street
• 20100 East 11th Street
• 1800 North Mingo Road
• 2900 North Garnett
• 11000 East 36 Street North
• 5500 North Mingo Road
• 100 West 81st Street
• 8600 South Elwood
• 30th and South Riverside Drive
• 800 North Lewis
• 6200 to 6400 South Lewis
• Cameron and Denver Avenue

Tulsa Fire says first of all, never drive through a roadway in which you cannot see the surface of the road. Water as shallow as 6 inches will stall most vehicles, water around 2 feet deep will wash most vehicles, including SUVs, off of a roadway.

Second, if you encounter water flowing across the roadway, immediately turn around and find another route.

Third, Stay away from underpasses. Underpasses can fill rapidly with water, while the adjacent roadway remains clear. Driving into an underpass can quickly put you in five to six feet of water.

Fourth, if you find yourself stalled in rising water, if you can safely do so, immediately exit your vehicle and proceed to higher ground. Remember though, that a current flowing at 6mph pushes against a person with a force of 134 pounds, but a current flowing at 12 mph will be pushing against a person at 538 pounds. If you don't feel that you can safely exit your vehicle, stay in your vehicle and immediately call 911 and give your exact location.

And both Tulsa Fire and Police say NEVER go around road barricades warning of high water.

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A motorist was stranded in Jenks near the 81st and Elwood Avenue area. Keep watching The News On 6 and clicking on NewsOn6.com for the latest weather information.