Work done to reduce the impact of flooding on Kingfisher and surrounding area residents since the massive 500-year flood in 2007 are expected to be put to the test this week.

Overnight downpours pushed Kingfisher Creek and Uncle John Creek, which merge in Kingfisher, to flood stage Tuesday morning.

Kingfisher City-County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis reported at 11 a.m. Tuesday that officials were preparing to close U.S. 81 as flood waters began to push across the highway in north Kingfisher.

Water also closed roads on S.H. 33 west of U.S. 81 at Ninth Street and a mile north of Cash-ion on S.H. 74F.

Loftis said Kingfisher Creek was projected to peak at 24.2 feet (two feet above flood stage) at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Uncle John Creek was expected to crest at 26.1 feet (five feet above flood stage).

The Cimarron River was expected to crest at 21.7 feet about 9 a.m. Wednesday, about four and a half feet above its 17-foot flood stage.

The creeks were pushing into low-lying areas early Tuesday after a night of heavy thunderstorms poured more rainfall on already soaked soil.

For comparison, Kingfisher Creek crested at 25.2 feet during the August 2007 flood and the Cimarron River crested at 26.1 feet in the historic October 1986 flood that washed out a stretch of U.S. 81 south of Dover.

Kingfisher City Manager Dave Slezickey said the Red Cross has established a shelter for flood victims at the First Baptist Church on South 13th Street and voluntary evacuations were beginning for residents in the flood’s path.

Overnight rainfall amounts ranged from 3.75 inches at the National Weather Service station in Kingfisher to 5.95 inches at the Dan and Brenda Slater residence southeast of Okarche.

Other local rainfall reports included:

Cashion – 5.5 inches at the Cash-ion Grain and Feed Elevator.

Dover – 4.95 inches at the Rick and Robin Johnston residence, northwest of Dover.

Hennessey – 5.15 inches at the Harold Ebers residence.

Loyal – 3.5 inches at the Jon Cochran Sr. residence.

Kingfisher – Twila Adams, east of Kingfisher, reported 4.75 inches and a gauge along Shafenberg Road, east of Kingfisher, showed an even five inches. A gauge at the Teri Holland residence in the 800 block of South Main Street showed 4.25 inches.

Okarche – five-plus inches at CHS Elevator in Okarche. The five-inch rain gauge was running over, a spokesperson reported. The gauge at Okarche Grain and Feed, west of Okarche, recorded five inches.

Mesonet rainfall readings included: Kingfisher 3.92, Guthrie 5.06, El Reno 5.8, Watonga 2.74, Fairview 4.23, Seiling 3.25, Lahoma 4.74, Breckenridge 5.81, Stillwater 6.43, Tulsa 5.3, Blackwell 5.68, Newkirk 6.25, Oilton 7.15, Inola 7.05 and Woodward 1.82 inches.

The Cimarron River was running from bank to bank Tuesday morning at the U.S. 81 bridge south of Dover but lighter rainfall in northwest Oklahoma prevented concern over severe flooding along the river.