TULSA — Oklahoma emergency management and state officials on Friday morning provided an update on the flooding impacts in the Tulsa area.
The Tulsa Area Management Agency, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford and other city and county officials held a news conference at 10 a.m. in the Compstat Room at 600 Civic Center. The news conference can be viewed in the video player above.
To read the latest emergency management update, click here.
The Keystone Dam continues to release water at a rate of 250,000 cubic feet per second, and the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to leave it flowing at this rate through Sunday, officials said at the news conference.
2 Works for You reporter Ashley Wheeler reported from Riverside Drive, where water has spilled into the park area and it remains closed off. But, officials believe the water will remain at that elevation for the remainder of the flood event,.
As of Friday morning, close to 1,100 Tulsa area residents have been impacted by flooding, including evacuations caused by the rising water levels. Officials said there were minimal evacuations overnight Thursday.
At a news conference Friday morning, Senator James Lankford said he visited the dams Friday morning and everything is operating as it should. He said he understands people want a closer look at the water levels, but urged people to stay away from the river and flooded area.
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“One of the greatest risks we have right now are folks getting comfortable with this water level, that are now going up to the edge of the water, either to watch or dip their toe into it or just be around it,” Sen. Lankford said. “There’s a tremendous amount of debris that is in the water itself.”
The Tulsa Police Department is keeping an eye on the areas affected and has already had to remove people from areas along the Arkansas River, in places like Tulsa River Parks and the River Parks Trail.
Officials are still urging anyone who lives or works along the Arkansas River to remain vigilant and to pay attention to the new information released everyday - because things could change in an instant.
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