Cotton County braces for more floods after weekend storms
COTTON COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — Residents of Cotton County and emergency management professionals spent Monday preparing for another wave of floods after a massive downpour over the weekend.
Cotton County Emergency Management Director Lori Hedges said her office is doing all they can to spread the word about roads that pose a threat to the public after the weekend's storms.
'My office and the Sheriff's Office are monitoring the creeks and low-lying areas,' Hedges said. 'County Commssioners have barricaded what roads are flooded at the moment, and we will continue to monitor the flood levels with the rain coming in.'
Walters resident Michael Russell said he is no stanger to floods in his neighborhood.
'Back in 2015, we got flooded pretty bad,' Russell said. 'So this year, we are we come prepared. We've laid down close to 600 sandbags.'
While the Russells prepared for a second round of floods, Walters Police Chief Tyler Smith urged people in the area to have a severe weather plan.
'[The] main concern is safety and preparation,' Smith said. 'The best way is, to keep an eye on the weather and see what it's going to do. Get sandbags ready. Have a plan.'
Smith added without a plan, residents could be caught in a life or death situation.
OTHER NEWS: One dead after driving into floodwaters in Lawton
'[We] had an individual traveling on one of our main roads to connect us with Lawton. It's up by a terrible flooded area,' Smith said. 'The road had been washed out from underneath him and pulled him into the ditch.'
With more rain expected Monday night, The Russells said all they can do is wait and monitor water levels.
'We got lucky yesterday, but we still have two more days to go in the flood warning,' Russell said. 'We're just trying to beat the water.'
For those in the Walters area who experience severe floods, the Walters Senior Citizens Center will be open and will take in any residents that need to seek refuge. There will be a sign outside with a phone number, which residents must call to be let in.
The center is located at 111 E Colorado Ave.
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