City Of Sand Springs, Residents Prepare For Possible Flooding

By Craig Day, The News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA -- Although Tropical Storm Hermine has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression, it can still cause plenty of problems in parts of Oklahoma. Emergency management leaders across the area are taking the potential rainfall seriously.

In Sand Springs, some residents have seen repeated flooding and worry there could be more.

Jennie Howard and her 19-month-old daughter Miracle Grace are taking a walk around their neighborhood during a break between rain showers. She's thankful for rain, but also worried about it.

"Too much rain and yeah – we're under water," said Sand Springs resident Jennie Howard.

Howard is concerned because her Sand Springs neighborhood, Meadow Valley, is prone to flooding.

9/8/2010 Related Story: Oklahoma Seeing Flooding From Hermine Remnants

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine are expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding.

"The back, the center. It floods right into the middle and these people can't even get out," Howard said.

At the Sand Springs Emergency Management office, also watching and wondering how much rain Hermine will drop on the area.

"We feel like we're pretty well prepared," said Artie Palk, Assistant Emergency Management Director.

"It may not be as severe as it is being predicted, but you don't know."

Just in case, the city will keep an eye on data from automated stream gauges, and personnel will also do regular visual inspections of trouble prone creeks.

"Small creeks and the branches, that sort of thing; that's the main concern and low-lying areas," Palk said.

The exact track of through Oklahoma and how much rain it will leave behind is uncertain, but since it could be a lot in a short amount of time, the city recommends everyone - especially people in flood prone areas - follow the changing weather conditions closely.

"People need to be prepared all the time," said Assistant Emergency Management Director Artie Palk.

It's advice Jennie Howard is taking to heart.

"I'm hoping that even though people have been praying for rain, that the rain lets up so we don't have to swim to work," said Jennie Howard, Sand Springs resident.

Sand Springs also has the Code Red program where people can sign up to get weather alerts on their phones - including flash flood warnings.

There is no charge for the weather alerts.