Cities prepare for any Rita effects

By Jane Glenn Cannon and Diana Baldwin

Published: September 24, 2005

Even as Norman fire, police and ambulance personnel participated in a "disaster preparedness" day Thursday at Sooner Mall, they were monitoring the potential for a real disaster in Oklahoma this weekend.

Initial predictions had Hurricane Rita bringing up to 7 inches of rain to Cleveland and McClain counties. The latest predictions are not nearly so dire, but the storm had emergency management officials preparing for the worst, Norman Police Chief Phil Cotten said.

"We sat down and talked about it as early as Wednesday, making sure we had our disaster planning in order," the chief said.

Thursday, the city's emergency workers handed out disaster planning information to residents as part of an annual public education effort.

Part of the conversation centered on the recent disaster along the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina and the likelihood of enormous damage that could be caused to the Texas coast by Hurricane Rita, officials said.

Cleveland County Civil Defense Director Dan Cary said he was working closely with the U.S. Weather Service, monitoring the storm and its predicted path.

"If it looks like the potential for flooding here is great, we will coordinate with local police, the sheriff's office and mobilize to do what needs to be done," Cary said.

Cotten said the west side of Norman near the Canadian River flood plain was the most vulnerable to flooding in the city limits.

If heavy rains and severe weather occur as a result of a hurricane, Cotten said, the city will open its Emergency Operation Center at Fire Station No. 7, 2207 Goddard Ave.

"We have a disaster plan, we've reviewed it and we are as prepared as you can be for a storm of that intensity," Cotten said.

The storm in the Gulf of Mexico has other cities thinking about future trouble spots.

'More prepared than many others'
In Purcell, Police Chief David Tompkins said Walnut Creek has caused flooding problems a couple of times in his 20-year tenure with the department.

"A couple of bridge trestles were blocked," Tompkins said. "When they got them cleared out, we didn't have any more problems."

Tompkins has already checked out the creek. He said he found nothing that should cause the city problems in case of future flooding.

McClain County Emergency Management Director Tammy Finley said her county's emergency plans are ready for any future flooding problems.

"Our state is more prepared than many others," Finley said. "We have a statewide emergency management network."

Walnut Creek and the South Canadian River are the two waterways in the unincorporated areas of the county where she is assigned.

Newcastle Police Chief Gary Norman said small creeks running through the city have caused some flooding problems in the past, as well as a few low areas on State Highway 130.

Newcastle, like most cities, is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Emergency Management Information System, an instant command system initiated by President Bush following 9/11.

In the event of a real disaster, Norman said, his department will turn to the national system now in place.