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Flooding forces dramatic rescue of motorists in Oklahoma and parts of Texas also are deluged
By Murray Evans, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | No comments posted.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Residents in parts of Texas and Oklahoma braced for more storms Wednesday, a day after heavy flooding led to the dramatic rescue of stranded motorists and the death of a teenager.
In central Texas, emergency officials received multiple reports Wednesday of people trapped in fast moving water atop vehicles, on roofs or clinging to trees. Emergency crews responded by land, air and boat. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
In Oklahoma, about 20 firefighters using a raft rescued 16-year-old twin sisters from bumper-deep flood waters surrounding their car Tuesday. Cpl. Brent Koeninger helped the girls get on the raft as the other firefighters pulled them to safety, one at a time.
The sisters, Lauren and Lindsey Penn, were both in good condition, said Fire Department spokesman Tony Young.
The Oklahoma City area received about an inch of rain in 24 hours, bringing the city's annual total to 28.03 inches - about 10 inches above normal. The downpour was expected to continue Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
A 13-year-old boy died in the Dallas suburb of Garland Tuesday night after he was swept off a bridge pillar and washed down a flooded creek, police spokesman Joe Harn said.
William Griffin was swept away while firefighters using ropes were trying to pull him ashore from the pillar where he was stranded, police said. He was found a mile downstream about two hours later and pronounced dead at a hospital, Harn said.
Residents of about 50 homes near Lake Granbury, Texas, were evacuated Tuesday by boat and jet ski after Robinson Creek breached its banks.
People waited on the roofs of their houses for help as water rose to waist-level, Hood County Judge Andy Rash said. The creek was still rising late Tuesday, he said. No injuries were reported.
Flooding forced street closures in several parts of the state, and several motorists in the Dallas-Fort Worth area had to be rescued from vehicles Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, several Chicago streets and basements were flooded as parts of the city received 3 to 4 inches of rain in about 45 minutes, just before the evening rush hour, according to the National Weather Service.
The water department received more than 700 reports of flooded basements, officials said.
In central Texas, emergency officials received multiple reports Wednesday of people trapped in fast moving water atop vehicles, on roofs or clinging to trees. Emergency crews responded by land, air and boat. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
In Oklahoma, about 20 firefighters using a raft rescued 16-year-old twin sisters from bumper-deep flood waters surrounding their car Tuesday. Cpl. Brent Koeninger helped the girls get on the raft as the other firefighters pulled them to safety, one at a time.
The sisters, Lauren and Lindsey Penn, were both in good condition, said Fire Department spokesman Tony Young.
The Oklahoma City area received about an inch of rain in 24 hours, bringing the city's annual total to 28.03 inches - about 10 inches above normal. The downpour was expected to continue Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
A 13-year-old boy died in the Dallas suburb of Garland Tuesday night after he was swept off a bridge pillar and washed down a flooded creek, police spokesman Joe Harn said.
William Griffin was swept away while firefighters using ropes were trying to pull him ashore from the pillar where he was stranded, police said. He was found a mile downstream about two hours later and pronounced dead at a hospital, Harn said.
Residents of about 50 homes near Lake Granbury, Texas, were evacuated Tuesday by boat and jet ski after Robinson Creek breached its banks.
People waited on the roofs of their houses for help as water rose to waist-level, Hood County Judge Andy Rash said. The creek was still rising late Tuesday, he said. No injuries were reported.
Flooding forced street closures in several parts of the state, and several motorists in the Dallas-Fort Worth area had to be rescued from vehicles Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, several Chicago streets and basements were flooded as parts of the city received 3 to 4 inches of rain in about 45 minutes, just before the evening rush hour, according to the National Weather Service.
The water department received more than 700 reports of flooded basements, officials said.
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