Dairy Farmer Rescues Cows From Flooding

The rain caused flooding in several parts of Claremore. The flooding started before daylight, after an early storm dumped at least four inches of rain in the watershed.

News On 6's Emory Bryan reports Monday morning's flash flood caused problems on the west side of Claremore, downtown and on the east side, where access to six homes was cut off by the high water.

Most all Harley Swan and his neighbors can talk about is the rain. And with good reason. Swan's 78 dairy cows are up on high ground to get away from fast moving water on their pasture.

"It's been four times this year. And in my lifetime, I don't remember it doing this much," said Harley Swan, Swan Dairy.

Whenever there is a real heavy rainfall, Swan's cows are cut off in their pasture. The rainfall has covered part of it. The dairy barn is up on a hill.

Swan's family has learned to watch the weather. They make sure they won't have trouble getting the cows into the barn for milking.

"We went and got the cows last night at 12:30. We knew it was raining and the creek was coming up. So, we got them up on this side, on the hill, where they're safe," said Swan.

On the west side of Claremore, the water washed inside houses, and firefighters in a canoe rescued four families. The houses had water more than a foot deep.

Claremore Lake was full and sending a river downstream, where water blocked roads and briefly washed over a bridge before the level dropped.

The water level continues to drop and the roads that were blocked are open again. But, with more rain in the forecast, a lot of people here are watching the weather and worrying about more flooding.