By Michael Pineda
mpineda@cherryroad.com

Mother Nature has a gift that it is determined to keep on giving.

The National Weather Service announced a flood watch in effect for central and Southern Oklahoma Thursday morning. Heavy rain was predicted Friday morning for an area that has already received its fair share of rainfall.

Carter County Emergency Management Director Paul Tucker said the Washita River was expected to crest at 35 feet early Thursday afternoon. The major flooding level is 31 feet. As of Thursday morning, only Aldine Road near Gene Autry was closed. Tucker said Caddo Creek was looking pretty good.

“The one thing we want to stress is do not go around barricades,” Tucker said. “They are there for a reason.”

At a crest of 35 feet, the Washita River would still fall well short of its crest in 2015, which forced numerous road closures.

The Ardmore Airpark is located off the Washita River. Ardmore Development Authority President & CEO Bill Murphy said they received good news when the predicted crest was lowered from 40 feet to 35 feet.

The ADA recently replaced tresses in the Washita River for its MALSR Lighting System. Murphy said they are drilled into bedrock and reinforced with concrete.

“That is why they got designed and were so expensive,” he said. “So, there is not a repeat of 2025.”

Ardmore Emergency Management Director Amber Wilson said the city is doing okay although there have been some street issues. That included a waterline bursting on A Street last Friday.

The city has also had some flooding issues at Heritage Hall and suffered damage to some city vehicles, including one fire engine and several police cruisers.

“We have been keeping track of it and if we can, we will get some FEMA money it is declared an emergency,” she said.