LEFLORE COUNTY (KFSM)-Much of LeFlore County dealt with flooding Wednesday (May 20), especially on rural roads.
The LeFlore County Sheriff's Office said areas of Talihina, Monroe, LeFlore and Cameron experienced the worst of the flooding after rain came through Tuesday night (May 19) and into Wednesday morning.
Talihina Public Schools canceled classes due to road conditions and damage inside its buildings, administrators said. A total of six classrooms were flooded in the Jr. High building and a classroom in the High School experienced water damage as well, according to Talihina Elementary Principal Cindy Buchanan.
Angela King works at a convenience store in Cameron.
“Some people say that there is a road out towards Monroe that is actually blocked off and they can't get to this area from out that way,” King said.
Deputies said even six inches of water could pose a threat to smaller vehicles.
“Anytime we put a barrier up, there's danger in that area,” LeFlore County Deputy Randy Liles said. “Either for yourself or your passengers or somebody in the vehicle.”
Steve Hansel owns property on Sumler Road north of Cameron.
“I came over here and sure enough this morning I found it all washed out,” he said. “The county did really good. I put a sign to stop the traffic, but they came out, and they got it fixed today so they did a good job.”
Several low water bridges across the county were washed out with water.
Deputy Liles told 5NEWS he responded to an abandoned SUV submerged in water on Solona Road in LeFlore.
“It's a new bridge, but it was completely underwater; probably at the highest point that I had seen it, probably 4 ft.,” he said.
Anyone caught going around a barricade will be ticketed, authorities said.
The following roads have been closed:
- Hudson Corner Road, south of Oklahoma 9 near Bokoshe (bridge was just repaired this week and washed out again)
- Oklahoma 82 northwest of Talihina
- Oklahoma 83 near Gilmore Road in Monroe
- Fairview Road in Cameron
- Williams Road between Panama and Cameron
- Sumler Road in Cameron was closed, but has since reopened.
- S. 270 near Wister dam (this could be closed for weeks due to high lake levels)