Family Packs Up To Avoid Flood Threat

Tuesday, July 3rd 2007, 8:51 pm

By: News On 6

Some Rogers County residents are preparing for the worst. Rogers County authorities have already moved livestock and farm equipment out of areas that have the potential to flood, but one family isnâ€™t going to stick around to and see if they're home ends up underwater. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports theyâ€™re packing up and getting out.

The Horner family experienced flooding 21 years ago after the Verdigris River overflowed its banks. Their home was still dry on Tuesday, but the Horners are convinced that the river, like it did in Coffeyville, will spill over its banks.

"We flooded in â€˜86, and we're in worse shape than we were then, so we're looking for it to happen within the next couple of days," said Rogers County resident Ken Horner.

Officials in Rogers County say they, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, are monitoring the potential flooding closely. No mandatory evacuation orders have been issued, but they are suggesting that residents in low-lying areas move their possessions to higher ground.

Nearby Lake Oologah has risen 15 to 20 feet, and water continues to roar out of the spillway. All this has the Horner family convinced it's time to go.

"They haven't officially told us to evacuate, but based on our past experiences, we think it's necessary," Horner said.

The Horners of course have faith that their move will simply be an exercise in futility. Ideally, they will return in a few days with all of their boxes. They hope theyâ€™ll be able to move their possessions back into a dry house, but with all the flooding up north they say they're not taking any chances.

"Might be better if it was for nothing actually,â€ said Hornerâ€™s relative Randy Collier. â€œLess damage, just doing what we can,"

"We'll just take everything out, hope it don't flood, and if it doesn't we'll move everything back in," Horner said.

The Horners, who do not have any flood insurance, ended up with 40 inches of water in their home back in 1986. And after seeing what happened to the residents of Coffeyville this week, the Horners aren't exactly optimistic that their home will be spared.

Watch the video: Heading For Higher Ground

For more flooding information, check out our STORM ZONE web page.