State Rep. Lonnie Sims (R-Jenks) hosted an interim study at the State Capitol on Tuesday to conduct a state level review of the actions taken leading up and in response to the historic Arkansas River Flood of 2019.

“Four months ago, Oklahomans endured the second most significant flood the Arkansas River has experienced since 1986,” Sims said. “No community was spared, nor the many cities and towns inundated by overflows of lesser-known creeks and streams that fed into it.”

Sims said the purpose of the interim study was to facilitate an after-action examination with key federal, state and local governmental agencies as well as public and private stakeholders that were negatively impacted up and down the river.

“We have no higher duty as public officials than to protect the people we serve,” Sims said. “The grit and determination of those who suffered during this event along with the outpouring of support from the community should inspire us all to gain every lesson, good or bad, to better respond and, if at all possible, prevent the next one.”

The first day of the study was highlighted by an emotional opening presentation by Justin Patterson, whose family experienced the event first-hand in the Sand Springs neighborhood of Town and Country. Tulsa County Commissioner, Karen Keith, spoke on the flooding throughout the state and the critical need for investment in the aging Tulsa County District 12 Levee system that was pushed to the brink.

This was further accentuated by Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) Director, Joe Kralicek, who, when asked how the City of Tulsa would have been affected if the levees had failed, responded that it would have been the “single most catastrophic” natural disaster in Oklahoma’s history.

The interim study will continue at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Speakers next week include a Webbers Falls farmer, the mayor of Fort Gibson, and officials from Tulsa County Director of Governmental Affairs, Oklahoma Dept. of Insurance, Oklahoma Port Directors, and the US Army Corp of Engineers. The study will be live-streamed at okhouse.gov under “House Audio/ Video.”