Drivers Blocked By Flooded Roads In Wagoner, Delaware Counties

Some Wagoner and Delaware county roads are flooded Tuesday as a storm system moves slowly through eastern Oklahoma. Drivers are reminded to "turn around, don't drown" on flooded roads.

Wagoner County – which includes a section of Broken Arrow - is seeing heavy flooding Tuesday as the rain continues to fall.

"It's very saturated now. It's not soaking in at all. It's mostly running off," said OHP Trooper Shawn Weese.

Several roads are flooded, according to a release from Major Gary Handley of the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office.

Flooded roads in the Broken Arrow area include:

• 305th between 31st and 51st
• 31ST and 250th flooded
• 257th between 41st and 51st – closed due to flooding
• 8200 block and south of 353rd
• 56th and 241st area

Wagoner area roads include:

• South 220 Road and 730 Road
• 280 Road south of SW 15th
• U.S. Highway 16 south of Wagoner – bridge is under water at 750 Road
• The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has blocked the roadway with trucks at U.S. Highway 16 and 100th Street North.

3/19/2012 Related Story: High Water Closes Tulsa Streets, State Highway

Emergency crews are urging drivers to be cautious until the slow moving storm system moves on, and the water recedes.

"Even just a few inches of water, fast moving water, can sweep a car off the roadway. So they need to make sure they're careful where they drive and not drive into the high water," Weese said.

In many parts of the area, drainage isn't keeping up with the rainfall. Water levels at many area lakes are on the rise, including Fort Gibson Lake. The Corps of Engineers is monitoring the levels closely and is closing some lower lying camping areas as a precaution.

In Delaware County, District 2 – from Jay to Grove – had 16 roads closed due to high water, and county commissioners expect conditions to worsen as creeks rise. Janet Barber of the Delaware County Journal said the problem is expected to hit its peak Thursday afternoon.

ODOT is also reporting road closings in Pittsburg, Atoka and Leflore counties. U.S. Highway 63 between the Indian Nations Turnpike and U.S. 270 in Pittsburg County is closed as is U.S. Highway 31 from McAlester extending west one mile.

In Atoka County, State Highway 131 between U.S. Highway 69 and Wardville is closed. State Highway 144 five miles west of U.S. Highway 259 is closed in Leflore County.