Kingfisher officials working to end town's flooding image
Disaster: Residents are rebuilding after destruction in August 2007
Rain's effects felt a year later.
Kingfisher officials working to end town's flooding image

By Robert Medley

Published: August 19, 2008

KINGFISHER — Leroy Krittenbrink said he still can't believe he made it out of the rushing floodwaters alive.

A year ago today, Krittenbrink, 73, and his wife, Bernice, 67, were caught in a pickup that was swept off a rural road by a wall of water.

As the Krittenbrinks' pickup bobbed and floated across flooded fields, the couple talked by cell phone to a dispatcher and then were spotted by a helicopter flown by patrol Lt. Brian Sturgill and co-pilot Joe Howard. Lt. Bill Reitz lowered life jackets to the couple and Kingfisher Fire Chief Randy Poindexter dangled from the helicopter skid.

Live television coverage of the Krittenbrinks' rescue was watched across the country as the two were lifted, carried, dropped and then picked up again and saved from the sinking pickup.

"I still don't know how we got out of it,” Leroy Krittenbrink said during a recent interview in the couple's Kingfisher home.

The city was deluged by a rainstorm Aug. 19, 2007. The storm was generated by remnants of a tropical storm that reformed over central Oklahoma.

A year later, the city is still rebuilding. And officials said they are continuing to work on a flood control plan meant to make sure such a disaster doesn't happen again.

Last year's flood led to the rescue of more than 100 people by boat and Oklahoma Highway Patrol helicopter, including the Krittenbrinks.

Kingfisher City Manager Richard Reynolds said the city may never fully recover from the worst flood the town has ever had. He said plans are progressing to control future flooding.

One trying to orchestrate those plans is Brian Walter. The owner of Walter Building Center, 416 N Main St., said he has bounced back since his business sustained about $500,000 worth of damage.

"There was nothing left to do but watch as water inundated my business,” he said.

Today, Walter, 46, is chairman of the Kingfisher flood control committee.

The flood control committee is working to get soil conservation funds of about $3 million to build retention ponds and dams west of Kingfisher. Engineering work could begin as early as this fall, Walter said.

"Flooding is such a frequent problem in this area,” Walter said. "But for myself and many others, this property is where we have to stay. It is not financially feasible to move.”

Kingfisher Mayor Jack Stuteville said flooding has haunted the city for years.

"It's sad, but that's what Kingfisher is known for,” Stuteville said. "Watonga is known for the cheese festival. Okeene is known for the rattlesnake festival, and we're known for our floods. It is something we are trying to address and get some help.”

Poindexter said his department is ready to respond to floods. The city has a rescue boat, more lifesaving vests and all firefighters have been trained in swift-water rescue techniques.

"We are a lot better prepared today than we were 12 months ago,” Poindexter said.

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