Concerns Over Dam Prompt Voluntary Evacuation Of SW OKC Neighborhood

Residents in a southwest Oklahoma City neighborhood are leaving their homes over concerns that a nearby dam could break.

For an area already threatened by high water, rain is the last thing people want to see. Meridian, just south of S.W. 149th Street, is closed at this time.

Just north of the Canadian River is a man-made lake. The concern is Thursday night's storms could cause the river to crest, pushing water into the lake and breaking the dam, which would flood the homes on S.W. 159th St. and S.W. 156th St.

The Oklahoma City Police Department gave the voluntary evacuation orders around midnight.

A woman who lives in one of those homes got a knock at her door around 1 a.m. Friday by an Oklahoma City police officer, who encouraged her to get out. She was in the midst of cleaning up after six feet of water flooded her home back on May 6 and had only been back for about a week before this new threat occurred.

“It ruined thousands of dollars' worth of tools. Looks like someone took rain and mud and just shook it because everything floated and fell over,” Connie Schutte said.

Oklahoma City police said there are about 15 homes in the area in total. No word on when it will be safe for those folks to return. We've learned sandbags were placed to help protect the homes, but according to Schutte, many have been washed away.

Meanwhile, Schutte plans to stay at a local hotel.