Tips To Keep You Safe During Severe Weather On Oklahoma Lakes

By Rich Lenz, The News On 6

LAKE KEYSTONE -- Over the next couple of months, thousands of Oklahomans will be camping and boating on one of Oklahoma's many lakes.

Many will head out without fully considering what to do if severe weather strikes.

The good news, thanks to the cooperation between several agencies, there is a plan in place to protect campers and boaters in case the weather becomes severe.

If you're out on a lake in a boat and severe weather is approaching:

"Best thing to do is head to shore, get the boat on the sand, get out of the boat, get up into, you know find some kind of natural shelter. You may lose your boat, but it's better than losing your life," said Keystone Park Ranger Dakota Allison.

Common sense, right? And yet, every year, hundreds of Oklahomans ignore the warnings and wind up in trouble for a variety of reasons. It may be their only chance to go fishing that week, it's a long run back to the marina and often they're just not thinking clearly.

Here is a typical scenario: you've got some really bad looking clouds out to the west, and on your boat, you've got somebody who has some alcohol.

"Alcohol, you know, is a big problem on the water. You know, you start mixing alcohol with anything, it affects people's judgment," said Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Ricky Humdy.

That's true on water or land, so leave the libations at home, but don't forget to bring a properly-fitting life vest for every person on board, a floatable lifesaver and a working fire extinguisher -- it's the law.

John Phelan is a veteran angler who decided the best place to fish this day was under a covered marina; call it a lesson learned on Oologah Lake.

"Went out on a boat and saw it coming through and got out of there and two boats had actually sunk that day," said fisherman John Phelan.

The problems don't disappear on land, after all, a tent or even a camper is no place to be when a storm is coming at you.

"If we hear severe weather is approaching, we will go into the parks, use our P.A. system, get out and visit with people, you know, spread the word of awareness," said Park Ranger Dakota Allison.

Unfortunately, Lake Keystone does not have a dedicated storm shelter, so when things head south, campers head for the bathhouses.

"Our bathhouses, they do provide some shelter," said Dakota Allison.

So to review, if you hear thunder… "You need to get off the water," said trooper Ricky Humdy.

If you won't listen to the OHP trooper, make sure you listen to The News On 6 WARN team.

To give you an example of how things work at Keystone Lake, if there is a problem on the water, the park rangers take charge. If it's on land surrounding the lake, state troopers and police would lead the response.