‘Blocked Off From Civilization’: Floodwaters Turn Oklahoma Town Into an Island

May 28, 2019 · 15 comments
Judy Petersen (phoenix)
The states being hit hardest are those that support Trump and other climate deniers.
Erica (Sacramento, CA)
@Judy Petersen Sometimes you really do reap what you sow.
Lawrence (New York)
Red state climate change deniers, this is the future. Rising waters, increased tornado activity, hurricanes, record snows, record heat and cold temps. The planet is sending off flares. It's time to notice them. Every county in Oklahoma is in a state of emergency. How many counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois? "Own the libs" all you want, but drowning towns, mostly in Red states, are the future. The GOP is not helping you out, the Dems are trying.
Erica (Sacramento, CA)
@Lawrence Their choice has never been more clear; start swimming (take action for themselves), or keep sitting and waiting for the government to throw you that flotation device they've promised but that "keeps getting stalled on the Senate floor...." Hmmmm.
RObert Gartner (Houston, Texas)
Oh we are so arrogant in this country. What we see here is evidence of what arrogance does...eventually. and even Dams fail too. The carrying capacity of humanity has been reached as well.
Usha Srinivasan (Maryland)
He says there is no climate change he is the leader of an entire nation and even as he speaks, more than 50 tornadoes touch down, twisters rip trees and buildings, turn over cars on streets strewn with the bones of people where live wires and poles lie dangling the ominous and inexorable predictions are for more rain and severe lightning to pierce the skies and immolate those in the way who must do the hiding, Where the hiding? How the hiding? When icebergs break and breakers break sandbars and over piles of sandbags spume comes crashing into crops and livestock, when the lachrymose sky unceasing sheds its laments into the earth, in inland bays people row boats from brand new islands to the mainland for life's essentials, They are wiped out by their very existence their existence threatened, by the heat of their bodies, the breath of their engines and their inventions for convenience the thermometer inches and they improvise to survive-- plowing through the devastation, disaster relief in the billions-- While he says there is no climate change-- The leader of entire nation, drowning or on fire.
Scott MacFarland (New Jersey)
It wouldn’t be a complete surprise to learn that many of these victims would deny federal help to others while feeling that they should have their possessions replaced at the taxpayers’ expense.
brian lindberg (creston, ca)
I wonder if they will ever determine that climate change is not a hoax...and stop voting for charlatans who tell them it is. I doubt it...ain't no cure for stupid.
Jeanette Powell (Syracuse, NY)
I have been thinking about the disasters in various parts of the country. I see that we are good at building oil pipelines which are so destructive. Why don't we build flood control pipelines so that the part of the country which is susceptible to drought could have reservoirs of waters filled with flood waters. However our infrastructure is so neglected as is any good planning and ideas as to how to deal with disasters. If we depend on Republicans it will never happen and I do not see creative solutions coming from the left either. It is so sad when we have the potential to make things work much better.
frank monaco (Brooklyn NY)
When do we accept the fact something is going on with weather? You don't want to call it climate change ok but how many times are we going to witness these kind of diasters and keep out head in the sand? These poor people are living through something unimaginable to Most. We need to take steps so this becomes something of the Past. This is not a Political thing. These are real Americans suffering, homes ruined. Elected officials need to help these people not just for today but for the Future.
Coldnose (AZ)
At this rate homebuilders will soon offer the option of installing lifeboats, cruise ship style, on the sides of the garage. Have any towns have been hit with both flooding and tornadoes simultaneously? How would you prepare for that?
Cynthia D. (Oklahoma)
@Coldnose Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas have all been hit with flooding and tornadoes simultaneously. While dealing with flooding over the weekend, we also had to seek shelter multiple times. It has continued to rain (yesterday and today) making the lake and river levels rise higher. The prediction is it will rain everyday from June 2 to June 12th. Please pray for us as we continue on this uncertain path.
Canita (NJ)
@Cynthia D. I will pray for you. May you and all your family, friends and neighbors be safe.
Pablo Cuevas (Brooklyn, NY)
Well, your imaginary friend in the sky did not car much before the storms. What make you think he would answer your prayers during the aftermath of them?
JF (Farmington, Utah)
Great article with a human touch. The immediate needs, fears, and resilience of these residents put a lot of other issues in proper perspective. This made me feel something for these people; today's article about gender identification legislation made me roll my eyes and sigh in comparison.