Flooding Information

     Flooding not only kills more people every year than tornadoes or lightning, it is also more costly. The National Weather Service reported that flood-related property damage costs us nearly $6 billion dollars a year.

     Flooding is inevitable. Ask anyone who lives near a creek, river, or lake. After the Memorial Day 1984 floods in the Tulsa area, the city built numerous water retention areas to lower the risk. These do work to help reduce flooding but with enough water flooding will still occur.

     Dams and levees do help control flooding but with persistent heavy rain and massive amounts of runoff, they can be breeched. Flooding may develop very slowly, over a period of several days, but may also occur in a matter of moments.

     Before you move into an area, or purchase land to build a house, find out if it is in a flood plane. Check with local city or county engineers on records of flooding history. I would also speak with neighbors and people who live in the area about how often flooding occurs.

     Finally you can purchase flood insurance, even if you do not live in a flood plain, it available. If you have a weather question for Dan, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com