Families Devastated by Flood Damage in South Oklahoma City

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Families in south Oklahoma City are still cleaning up from Thursday's flooding.

Near S.W. 51st Street and Harvey, what once was personal belongings now lay in piles of trash on the lawns of those with flooding damage.

Robert and Gloria Skinner's home is destroyed, but say they were fortunate enough to save themselves.

"Me and her and the lady across the street held hands and went through the water…It was what…waist deep?" said Robert Skinner.

The height of where the flood waters reached is still visible from the dirt on the Skinner's van. Their cars were almost completely submerged and their home filled with several inches of water. Luckily they had a cleanup crew.

"We wanted to get the carpet up quickly so three of my grandsons started ripping it up, cutting it up into pieces, ripping it up and put it outside," said Gloria Skinner. "I must be sitting in a bowl. I don't know but everyone across the street was fine."

"We're praying we'll get some assistance because we don't have flood insurance so that's what we're hoping for," said Robert Skinner.

State officials issued an emergency declaration for 63 counties on Friday in hopes of getting federal assistance for people like the Skinners.

More: Dozens of OKC Motorists Stranded After Thursday's Flash Floods