Watch Video
Following heavy rains in the metro area Monday and Tuesday, Norman firefighters rescued three trapped motorists -- two women and a child -- from their stranded vehicle on East Franklin Road and 12th Avenue Northeast shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Daryl Williams, forecaster at the National Weather Service in Norman, said Tuesday afternoon that local rainfall amounts had totaled 4.01 inches since Monday morning.
Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said firefighters responded to "multiple calls of cars being driven into high water and stalling, but those were the only ones we've had to rescue so far."
"They're all OK," Bailey said.
Bailey said the heavy rains are "causing all the typical areas to flood."
Some of those areas involve "all the roadways that Little River crosses under, including multiple locations on Franklin Road; Porter Avenue south of Franklin Road and sections of Lindsey Street, Flood Avenue and McGee Avenue," he said.
"People are still driving into those, even when they can't see the roadway," Bailey said. "We've put up barricades but people tend to ignore those and end up getting into big trouble. Fortunately, no one has been injured yet."
Bailey said once the "ground becomes saturated, it doesn't take a lot more rain to cause this problem."
Firefighters often respond to reports of stalled vehicles in deep water and arrive to find no one in the vehicle.
"Lots of times they'll disappear or catch a ride with someone," he said.
Because firefighters still have to ensure that no one is trapped in vehicle, Bailey said stranded motorists who leave before firefighters arrive should "call us back or hang around until firefighters arrive."
"Tell us 'That's my car and no one is in it,'" he said.
In the meantime, motorists should "be wary of wet roadways," he said.
"lt doesn't take much rain to float a car," Bailey said.
Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com
Local news
VIDEO: Motorists rescued from high water
More than 4 inches of rain fell Monday and Tuesday
- Local news
-
-
Veterans, community remember the fallen
Wesley Carroll lives on, but countless numbers of his friends and family have been laid to rest after their service in conflicts dating as far back as the 18th century....
-
Deputies arrest 10
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies made 10 arrests in a Saturday night and early Sunday morning saturation patrol....
-
Troopers release name in Thunderbird drowning
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers have released the deceased’s name in a weekend drowning at Lake Thunderbird....
-
Holiday fun
Sunday wasn’t just another church night at Harvest Church. The church’s pre-Memorial Day fellowship event featured a monster truck show, bike stunts and fireworks, among other things....
-
Volunteers clean up Bishop Creek
Norman’s Bishop Creek is home to a lot more than frogs, turtles and water skimmers, a group of volunteers say....
-
More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day
NEW YORK — More Americans will hit the road this holiday weekend than a year ago. And they’ll have a bit more money to spend thanks to lower gas prices....
-
OBA names officers
TULSA — Brad Swickey, president and CEO of Valliance Bank in Oklahoma City, was inducted as chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association at the OBA’s 115th Leadership Forum and Annual Convention, held May 14 and 15 at the Renaissance Hotel ...
-
Rig count down by 3 to 1,983
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,983....
-
Cornerstone Metals Recycling opens in Norman
Cornerstone Metals Recycling has officially opened a recycling facility in Norman at 2350 Industrial Blvd. The facility will provide easy access drive-through for recyclers in the Norman area including South Oklahoma City, Moore and Pauls ...
-
Agriculture Department spurring exports
International Market Development Coordinator Barbara Charlet is constantly finding new ways to introduce Oklahoma’s agricultural products to foreign markets. With 18 years of experience in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
