Floods slam Oklahoma: Lawton on edge as lake levels rise

LAWTON, OK — In Lawton, city officials issued a voluntary evacuation order for neighborhoods near Turtle Creek, Garden Village, and along 15th Street between Cache Road and Gore Boulevard as Oklahoma drowns under historic rainfall.

The warning couldn’t be more explicit: water levels are trending up, and that’s the concern. With 11.94 inches of rain recorded at Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City just shattered its all-time record for the wettest April. And it’s not over. Forecasts indicate that more storms are on the way, and communities are already on alert.

“We’re urging residents in these areas to leave voluntarily, now, while conditions are still manageable,” said Caitlin Gatlin, spokesperson for the City of Lawton. Emergency crews, including meteorologist Charlie Whittington, are live on the ground urging people to prepare for the worst.

This isn’t a minor springtime soak — it’s infrastructure stress in real-time. Roadways across southern and central Oklahoma are under water. Emergency calls are flooding in. And families in historically disinvested neighborhoods — often in low-lying areas — are the first to feel the danger.

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What to do if flooding hits your neighborhood

When floodwaters rise, every second matters. Here’s what officials and safety experts recommend:

• Don’t wait to evacuate if you’re in a high-risk zone. Roads become impassable fast.
  
• Never drive through flooded roads. Just six inches of moving water can sweep a car away.
  
• Turn off the electricity and gas if evacuation becomes necessary.
  
• Grab essential documents, medications and devices ahead of time — not during an emergency.
  
• Check on elderly neighbors or those without transportation.
  

And if you live in areas near creeks or drainage systems, keep a bag packed.

Flooding isn’t equal, and neither is recovery

According to the City of Lawton, Governor Kevin Stitt has issued an Executive Order on April 29th declaring a State of Emergency for Comanche County and surrounding areas due to ongoing heavy rain, flooding, and severe storms beginning April 19. This declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan, allowing state agencies to assist with response and recovery efforts.

These floods hit harder in neighborhoods already battling economic inequity and weak infrastructure. The City of Lawton is dealing with DEQ notices of violation due to its failing wastewater treatment system.

In parts of southeast Lawton, drainage issues have gone unresolved for years. Some residents have been pushing city leaders to address the floodplain redesignation since 2018, with little progress.

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