Where do you find this info, Dawn? I'd like to check the Fall River and Verdigris River in SE Kansas near Neodesha, Independence, Fredonia, that area. My sister and brother live in Neodesha, and when I spoke to her last night, she said they may end up having to evacuate.

Very interesting - thanks for sharing that with us.

Susan

Susan,

If you are familiar with using the Oklahoma Mesonet, you can find this info on National Weather Service website. Here is how to access it via the Mesonet:

Go to the Oklahoma Mesonet. Click on the yellow box that says "View Mesonet Data". This takes you to the next page.

In the upper left corner of that page there is a list of several options. Click on "Public Safety". This takes you to the next page.

On that page, there is a menu in the upper left corner. Click on "NWS Products". This takes you to the next page which is the Oklahoma Climatological Survey page.

On that page, click on "Forecasts & Warnings" and it will take you to the next page.

On that page, click on "Oklahoma Products". It will take you to a page that lists the available products.

On that page, click on "Watches and Warnings". There you are. This page is like a ticker, with the most current warning and watch updates first. You can page down and find the area you are interested in. Sometimes this webpage is only a few paragraphs long, like maybe there is one active thunderstorm watch and two tornado watches. Lately it has been huge. This morning the watches and warnings took up 34 pages.

I only look at Oklahoma watches and warnings, but I think you can access Kansas via the NWS page. However, it might be easier to just google the area you are intersted in plus NWS watches and warnings. I bet it would give you the latest data on Kansas that way.

Dawn

Dawn
That is interesting info you found. I kept your instructions for finding this info also.
Thank you so much for sharing.
G.M.

Interesting to see so many of the OK rivers listed. Locally, it is easy to not think much about the other rivers in the state, which is not close to ones personal location. Thanks, Dawn for helping us to get the "big picture."

With all the above mentioned rivers that are currently flooding, or are about to, and the multiple numbers of lakes and ponds found throughout OK; it is no wonder our OK summer cilmate is so muggy: no matter if it is during times that are like now; with flooding, or not.

What you may not see on the weather stations is that Hulah and Copan Dams are dangerously overfilled, they are letting water out as I write this. Expect severe flooding. Caney River is already out of its banks and expected to crest Tuesday evening. If we get more rain, will just make things worse. The last time this happened was in 1986. We lived in Bartlesville then and were spared. But neighbors behind us were not so lucky. In our part of Dewey, our neighbors tell us they did not flood so we are not evacuating on our block at this time. Many around us are, though.

Hi Katrina!

I hope that you and your plants are doing well in this crazy weather.

The reason I posted the river and creek flooding synopsis was exactly so all of us could see the big picture. All week I had focused on the river closest to me and when I began to really look at what was happening elsewhere in Oklahoma, I was horrified. As bad as it is here along the Red River, it is MUCH worse in many locations in our state.

The sun is shining here today, and while I am very grateful for that, the humidity and mosquitoes are just awful. It almost (but not quite) makes me wish for March or April again. Well, except for the late freeze--I don't want to go back to that timeframe!

Hi Ilene!

I hope that y'all are OK there. I have been very worried about your portion of the state the last couple of days as the flood reports are numerous and seem worse each time I read them. Keep us posted on how you and your neighborhood are doing. I hope you are spared the worst of the flooding, and, if possible, hope it completely misses y'all.

This is a very nerve-wracking time for everyone, and the decision about whether to stay or go is a hard decision to make. I think if I had a choice to make, I would stay in our home as long as I could, but I wouldn't stay if it was obvious water was going to get up to the house. High water terrifies me.

Be careful and stay safe!

Dawn

Yes, Ilene - I am very familiar with Dewey and just a bit further north is Caney, Kansas, and a bit further north is Independence, Kansas, and a lil further is Neodesha, where I grew up.

I need to call my Sister (Sally) tonight and see how things are going. We were talking about her home renovations and how lucky she was that they chose last year to do the exterior, and this year to do the interior! LOL!

Thanks for the info, Dawn.

Susan

We just took a short drive into Bartlesville around 2:30 today (Sunday). There are several ways to get to the west side of Bartlesville (which is where I work) from Dewey, but two of them are already closed. Little Coon Creek is out of its banks, not flooding HWY75 yet but very close. The Caney River is out of its banks and already covering a couple blocks at the Johnstone Park bridge. You can tell that several businesses have moved their vehicles and equipment to higher ground already and the water is standing right at the edges of their property. And cresting is not till Tuesday evening. If I go to work Monday I'm not sure if I'll be able to get home by the end of the day. If I get home Monday night I will probably stay home Tuesday. Independence Day is Wednesday and they always have fireworks and lots of activities and music in the park that's just outside my back gate. That's been cancelled. Unless neighbors risk the $800 fine for shooting off fireworks, it will be a quiet Independence Day. Sorry, folks, I'm just bummed out. I'm sure we'll be fine, we are on higher ground, and not far from the high school where they have set up a shelter, but lots of people are in danger of losing their homes like in '86, and many of them are our friends. We're two blocks east of HWY123, and as we drove back home, we could see water standing over the county road that's on the other side of 123, about a block away. There's just nothing you can do but watch it. A big black cloud appeared in the southwest sky as we were driving. DH and I have been trying to speak positively (Joyce Meyer's advice) and so I said, "This cloud will pass over quickly and not downpour on us," and truly that's what happened. So everyone please speak positively and keep the people in Dewey and Bartlesville, all those folks in Kansas and anyone else threatened by flood, in your prayers.

Ilene,

I don't know if you visit the NWS website like I do. Here's their latest warning for the Caney creek. Actually, there are three back to back warnings . I included all three in case there is info in there that is helpful.

I am positive something good will come of all of this, even if we lack the wisdom right now to understand what the good may be.

Keeping a positive thought in my head, and a prayer in my heart for all affected by this weather. :)

Dawn

WGUS84 KTSA 011913
FLSTSA
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007

...MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE FORECAST ALONG THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE AND NEAR COLLINSVILLE...

OKC147-020312-
212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE

* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

* AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 16.3 FEET.

* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.

* FLOOD STAGE IS 13.0 FEET.

* FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE WILL CONTINUE RISING...
CREST NEAR 21.7 FEET TUESDAY MORNING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING.

* WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 21 FEET AT BARTLESVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM DEWEY TO OCHELATA. SOME HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN BARTLESVILLE AND SUBURBAN AREAS WILL BE FLOODED. OLD HIGHWAY 75 WILL BE CLOSED. THIS WILL COMPARE WITH THE FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON MARCH 3 1975 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CRESTED AT 20.90 FEET.

$$

OKC147-020312-
212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA

* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

* AT 12 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 27.8 FEET.

* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.

* FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET.

* FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA WILL CONTINUE RISING...CREST NEAR 28.9 FEET THURSDAY EVENING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING.

* WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 28 FEET NEAR RAMONA...MODERATE AGRICULTURAL FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM OCHELATA TO THE NORTHEASTERN TIP OF TULSA COUNTY. SOME RURAL ROADS WILL BE IMPASSABLE INCLUDING THE ROAD BETWEEN RAMONA AND TALALA.

$$

OKC131-143-020312-
212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE

* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

* AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 28.0 FEET.

* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.

* FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET.

* FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE ROSE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE YESTERDAY EARLY AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 35.4 FEET FRIDAY BEFORE DAWN.

* WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 35 FEET NEAR COLLINSVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM COLLINSVILLE TO POINTS DOWNSTREAM. CONSIDERABLE FARMLAND WILL BE FLOODED. RURAL ROADS NEAR THE RIVER WILL BECOME IMPASSABLE. THIS WILL EXCEED A FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON
MAY 11 1993 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CESTED AT 34.40 FEET.

$$

I'm so worried, I am about to cry. I can't get in touch with my sister either by cell or land line. I read on the net that they have shut off the water in Neodesha (why?) and are having significant power outages. The 400 highway is closed (flooded) and both the Verdigris and Fall Rivers are continuing to rise. Major flooding in Fredonia (very close), Erie, and Independence, Kansas have been reported on the news, as well as Coffeyville (also in the area). I talked to Sally (my sister) on Friday night and she was concerned about the flooding there, too. Since then, I only get a busy signal on her land line, and no response on cell (probably cell tower failure in that area). I've left several messages but have not heard anything yet. The Fall river runs right through and around the town. Coffeyville is basically under water, as is Fredonia, so please pray for my family.

Susan

Susan, I'm sure lots of services are down, including the phone. I don't know why they'd shut down the water unless they're worried about the contaminated flood water backing up into the water lines. Sit tight, we'll all pray, and maybe you'll get some news today. Speak positively..."She is fine...she is fine..."

I got to work this morning but they had already closed down Frank Phillips Blvd and I had to cut out to Adams and go on out that way. When I got there, one of the fellows told me that Adams was closed going the other way so the way I came was actually the ONLY way to get there and he said that opportunity was closing up fast, I'd better go back home if I wanted to be with my family over the 4th. So I did, and I made it home. Lowe's on Adams had 2' of water in the store by that time. And I just heard they're getting ready to close HWY75 which would've been between me and home if I had waited, with no other way left to get through. So far we are high and dry at my house, I don't see water coming up in the park behind me at all, and it doesn't look like the water has advanced much across the railroad tracks, three blocks away. We didn't think to ask, when we bought this house, if it had ever flooded. Someone was watching out for us.

I was born in Iola, KS and I heard most of Iola is under water. All the family I have left there is a cousin, and there's an aunt in Chanute.

Yes, I drive Hwy 75 straight north to Neodesha (actually 75 turns into the new 4-lane highway 400 in between Independence and Neodesha now. It is closed now. In fact the only way into Neodesha is by boat or air right now, as I've read on the weather reports.

Yes, the water was turned off so that it would not become contaminated by the Verdigris, into which is spilling all of that oil from the refinery in Coffeyville. The sewage plant is down as well - YUCK! I not only have a sister there, but a mother and brother, too. Mother is in Independence, and I don't worry so much about it as Neodesha. Anyway, unless they got out (but where they would go I don't know cause all of the family lives near that area) of there, they are pretty isolated right now.

They have sent rescue two rescue teams to the area, too. So, hopefully all is well or soon to be. The Verdigris will crest at 19' over flood stage tonight, and begin to recede - crossing fingers. Thanks for your thoughts. I did read about Iola being evacuated. I hope your aunt and cousin are okay and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers, too.

Susan

Susan,

Have you heard from your family members? If not, you might want to try the American Red Cross or Salvation Army websites. Often they compile lists of evacuated residents (if you family has been evacuated and is not trying to ride out the storm at home) so they can assure worried relatives that their loved ones are fine.

I cannot believe the Verdigris River will be NINETEEN FEET over flood level. That is absolutely, positively mind-boggling. I have been watching its levels all weekend on the web, and asking myself "how much worse can it get?" It is hard to imagine how widespread the damage and devastation will be.

Ilene, I am glad you made it back home safely. I hope y'all remain high and dry these next few days.

I am keeping both of you and your loved ones in my thoughts and prayers.

What an incredible weather year we are having--we will certainly remember this one for a very, very long time.

Dawn