Heavy rain causes fatality in Oklahoma, swamping the area with floodwaters as deluge hits the region.
In the western U.S., an Oklahoma man tragically lost his life to flooding on May 1st, as a stretch of heavy rain swept through the states of Oklahoma and Texas andengulfed them in a severe water alert crisis. The unfortunate incident unfolded in Pottawatomie County, where the man's vehicle was swept off the road due to the relentless storm, leaving the Sheriff's department with no choice but to deliver the grim news through social media.
As the afternoon wore on, numerous other areas in central Oklahoma and the Dallas region faced torrential downpours, causing floodwaters to inundate roadways and other locations. The National Weather Service (NWS) attributed the heavy rain to a persistent frontal boundary and upper-level disturbances originating in the southern Rockies, resulting in what they called torrential rainfall. They even went as far as issuing a Level 3/4 flood risk warning for the region.
In a heartrending twist, a sheriff's deputy who valiantly attempted to save the man drowned in the ensuing floodwaters. Firefighters succeeded in rescuing the deputy but unfortunately could not salvage the drowning victim in time. The sheriff's office expressed their sorrow over the loss of life, issuing a heartfelt statement to the family and friends of the deceased.
Other affected areas included locations in both Oklahoma City metro and Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where there was a heightened risk of tornadoes and flooding. As of May 1st, approximately 5 million people were under tornado watches, ranging from eastern Texas to northern Louisiana and encompassing much of Arkansas during the late afternoon.
In Skiatook, north of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was continually monitoring the rising floodwaters of Bird Creek, preparing to offer assistance with potential rescues using an airboat on city streets. The worst flooding was predicted in southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas, especially for the Moderate Flood Risk Zone in western Arkansas, according to the NWS.
The downpour in the South-Central U.S. was set to conclude on May 2nd, but the risk of thunderstorms would then move towards the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. The ongoing flooding had led to numerous road closures, evacuations of homes in Lexington, Oklahoma, and over a hundred flight cancellations in major airports.
In a tragic add-on, three additional deaths related to stormy weather were reported in Pennsylvania in the 24 hours prior to the flooding. One individual who tried to extinguish a mulch fire in the area lost his life by electrocution, according to local authorities.
- Condolences were offered to the family and friends of the Oklahoma man who tragically lost his life during the flooding on May 1st.
- The heaviest weather-forecasting agencies predicted that the flooding would continue in southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas, especially for the Moderate Flood Risk Zone in western Arkansas.
- Despite the weather-forecasting warnings and efforts from the sheriff's deputy, three additional deaths related to stormy weather were reported in Pennsylvania in the 24 hours prior to the flooding, including one unfortunate individual who lost his life due to electrocution while trying to extinguish a mulch fire.
