Cherokee County Residents Clean Up After Damaging Flood

Craig Day, News On 6

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Flooding has forced a number of roads to close in Cherokee County. Some schools have canceled classes and a number of homes are also flooded.

4/25/2011 Related Story: Major Flooding Reported Along The Illinois River In Cherokee County

Like many Oklahomans, people in the Ginger Acres neighborhood knew we needed rain. But too much rain came too quickly.

"The neighbor that was here said it just looked like a wall of water coming through," Renee Tedford said.

Relatives, friends and church family are helping Renee Tedford's sister, Brenda, clean up her home. Cancer took Brenda's husband, a terrible wreck nearly took her son, and now the rain has taken a toll on her home.

"It just breaks my heart, because she's been through a lot," Tedford said.

The area has had about ten inches of rain over the past few days.

The water has receded quite a bit, but you can see just how deep it was in one neighborhood by looking at the water mark left on a number of homes. As the rain continues, the cleanup job becomes that much more difficult.

Renee Edwards' home also flooded.

"There was no way of stopping it. We had sandbags, and it was coming in faster than," she said. "It got in that back alley and within ten minutes it was in my back door."

The carpet and the new hardwood floors she just put in are ruined.

"We have full coverage insurance, but don't have flood insurance," Edwards said.

Pam Ferguson's home is also a muddy mess.

"It's hurting in here, seeing all this. I mean it's a nightmare," she said.

Ferguson thinks the county should have done more to prevent this kind of damage.

"If they would have done their job, cleaning that out. This wouldn't happen," she said.

Back at Renee Tedford's sister's home, despite what happened, they're thankful. They appreciate the help from so many people willing to lend a hand.

"We'll be here until we've put it right," Tedford said.

Emergency Management leaders in Cherokee County will assess the damage to those homes in Park Hill and damage in other areas, to see if there's enough for Cherokee County to qualify for federal help from FEMA.