Keystone outflow will increase to 275,000 cf/s, flood waters will rise

Flooding in the Riverside West subdivision in South Sand Springs.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced plans to increase outflow from the Keystone Dam Sunday after yet another torrential downpour soaked the state during an already historic wet-season.

Tornado sirens wailed across Green Country Saturday night and into Sunday morning as deadly twisters ravaged towns like Tulsa, Sapulpa, and El Reno. But what might ultimately end up causing even more property damage than the winds is the rain that came with it.

The Tulsa area received around an inch of rain, while areas upstream were doused in as much as three inches in the last 24 hours. Most of that water will find its way into the bursting banks of the Arkansas River, where Dam authorities are slowly inching their way closer to the record-setting 1986 outflow levels.

As of 5:00 p.m. Sunday, the lake is releasing 256,401 cubic feet per second, with inflow of 300,000. Waters are 33.04 feet above normal and the flood pool is 109.93% full. Though the USACE has yet to match the 1986 record of 305,000 cf/s, it has been releasing over 250,000 since Thursday, and over 200,000 since Wednesday. Even in the tragic flood of 1986, the outdated levee system never had to hold this much water for this long.

The conditions show no sign of improving. Outflow will increase to 265,00 cf/s Sunday at 7:00 p.m., and to 275,000 Monday at 7:00 a.m. With more showers in the forecast for six of the next eight days, it is imperative that people be aware of their surroundings. Those who live in flood plains should be prepared to evacuate on a moment’s notice. Additionally, many businesses, shopping centers, and other non-residential areas could be affected in the event of a levee failure.

Sand Springs would likely face flooding as far north as Highway 412 in the event of a levee collapse. Even if your home is outside the flood plain, you should make yourself aware of the City’s levee-failure emergency evacuation plan.

The City of Sand Springs has issued a warning for the few remaining citizens in the flooded Meadow Valley subdivision, saying they won’t be able to perform nighttime rescues in the subdivision. Neighborhood holdouts are advised that conditions are only going to get worse. The City of Tulsa is encouraging voluntary evacuation of homes along the levees.

If you are unsure of how flooding could impact your neighborhood, call emergency management at 211.

SEE RELATED: City of Sand Springs releases Levee-A Evacuation Plan, Tulsa encouraging voluntary evacuation

SEE RELATED: Leaking levees not a concern according to Tulsa County Levee Commissioner