Pawnee County Surveys Flooding Rain Damage

More rain is threatening parts of Pawnee County where flooding washed out roads on Wednesday. Some roads were so badly damaged a county commissioner said he plans to request help from FEMA.

City and county leaders say this flooding event is worse than the flooding the county saw in May. Looking at 5400 Road in Lone Chimney gives you an idea of just how powerful the rainstorm was.

A couple living in that area for 22 years said they've never seen the road washed out, and there's a similar reaction across the area.

What used to be a bridge on 5200 Road near Hallett is now a gaping hole. It separates Pawnee County resident Ed Kapple from his home. 

"I've lived here since 1962," he said. "I wanted a little rain, but I'd like to have a couple of inches at a time."

His house is fine, but now he's got a four-mile trip to make it there. County Commissioner Charlie Brown said it could be a week or two before the road is open again.

"Just looking at this one, it's an easy $40,000 fix," Brown said.

That'll just be a temporary fix. Closer to Cleveland, just south of Highway 64 on 36500 Road, the non-stop rain washed part of the road away. North Phillips Road in south Cleveland was still flooded Thursday.

With more rain in the forecast.

Ed, who's never seen the bridge by his house wash out in his whole life, is prepared for what's ahead.

"We will overcome," he said.

I'm told county commissioners have been out to 25 sites since Wednesday's heavy rains. Cleveland City Manager Elzie Smith says he still wants people to conserve water for now, while crews try to locate a water main break. 

10/4/2017 Related Story: Pawnee County Hit Hard With Rain, Flooding

Cleveland City Manager Elzie Smith said the Keystone Golf Course saw more than 17 inches of rain October 4. We're told they did have some minor damage.