First Responders Have Busy Weekend With Heavy Rains, Storm Surges

This weekend’s severe weather left first responders across northeast Oklahoma very busy.

Fire crews in Skiatook spent much of Sunday morning rescuing drivers stuck in high water. 

The surge of storms rolled through Green Country taking its toll on areas like Skiatook, Bartlesville and Turley.

Major roadways were shut down which forced first responders to work overtime.

"I'm real proud of my folks,” Skiatook Fire Department chief James Annas said. “They didn't get much sleep last night, I'll tell you that.”

Annas said his team had been monitoring the forecast since 9:30 Saturday morning. The storm overwhelmed the Candy Creek basin, forcing Skiatook to shut down State Highway 20 around Peoria extending it further east to Lewis. The highway reopened just after 6 p.m. Sunday.

"We're doing our job in the community that expects us to do our job and be there for them and we're kind of honored to do that,” Annas said. 

Annas said his crews responded to three separate water rescues beginning at 5 a.m. Sunday where North Hartford Avenue turns into East 131st Street North. They responded to a fourth headed eastbound on State Highway 20. 

"It was probably pretty scary for some of them because it was night, and they were surrounded by water,” Annas said. 

SFD responded in its Unimog which is a six-wheel military-converted vehicle that can drive through up to 4.5 feet of water. Crews were able to drop the individuals they rescued off at locations where loved ones could come get them. 

"Nobody got hurt,” Annas said. “Everybody was rescued safely, and hopefully, they have all learned their lessons. Don't drive around signs that say, 'High Water.'"

Taylor Gruenwald lives by Bird Creek. He watched the water rise on his property all Sunday morning.

"I got all my stuff out of here right now just in case,” Gruenwald said. “I got to park it up on the hills and everything around here.” 

Gruenwald's fields are flooded but he survived the 2019 floods. He said this weekend’s water is nothing in comparison to what happened two years ago.

"It ain’t nothing I ain’t (sic) used to,” Gruenwald said. “I seen it coming up. I been watching it. I knew it is gonna come up.”