National Weather Service Office in Tulsa Dedicates Turn Around Don’t Drown (TADD) Signs:
Osage Nation and Pittsburg County, OK

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center in Tulsa were pleased to partner with the Osage Nation and the Osage Tribe Roads Department for the installation of “When Flooded Turn Around Don’t Drown” signage at two frequently traveled and frequently flooded low water crossings in Osage County.  WFO Tulsa was also excited to install “When Flooded Turn Around Don’t Drown” signs in Pittsburg County, OK through a partnership with Pittsburg County Emergency

Management and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
A limited number of these signs are being distributed nationally through the National Weather Service's "Turn Around, Don't Drown" campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of flash flooding and to help save lives.  The NWS also hopes that local communities will continue to promote flash flood and other hazardous weather safety and perhaps even have the opportunity to install more “When Flooded Turn Around Don’t Drown” signs in flash flood prone locations.

Osage Nation

The TADD sign unveiling ceremony was held on March 12, 2010 with Bobby Tallchief, Emergency Management Director for the Osage Nation (Osage County, OK), RJ Walker with the Osage Tribe Roads Department, and Nicole McGavock, Service Hydrologist with WFO Tulsa.  According to Bobby Tallchief, of the approximately 100 low water crossings in Osage County, two locations in particular have had numerous water rescues in the past.  Luckily, no fatality accidents have occurred at these locations in the past, and the hope is that with the addition of the TADD signs, no fatalities will occur in the future. 

 The first set of signs is located at a low water crossing on Birch Creek on CR2350 between Barnsdall and Wynona.  This road has the heaviest traffic volume since it connects the two towns and is a short cut used to travel to Hominy.  The second set of signs was placed at a low water crossing on Bird Creek on CR2466 just north of Barnsdall.  Several families become stranded when this road is flooded.  Eventually, these families will try to get out and become stranded.  The Osage Nation Emergency Management Department began a Turn Around, Don’t Drown campaign in 2009 and continues to promote flood safety awareness.  After only being installed for a few days, the signs were being noticed, and Bobby Tallchief has already received requests for additional signs throughout the county.  He hopes to be able to install more TADD signs in the future.

Low water crossing on Bird Creek along CR2466 in Osage County during high water. Photo by Bobby Tallchief
Unveiling of TADD sign along CR2350 in Osage County. Nicole McGavock (Service Hydrologist, WFO Tulsa) left, and Bobby Tallchief (Emergency Manager) right. Photo by RJ Walker	x Unveiling of TADD sign along CR2350 in Osage County. RJ Walker (Osage Tribe Roads Dept.) left, and Bobby Tallchief (Emergency Manager) right.Photo by Nicole McGavock
Low water crossing on Birch Creek along CR2350 in Osage County during high water. Photo by Bobby Tallchief	TADD sign installed at a low water crossing on Birch Creek along CR2350 in Osage County. Photo by Nicole McGavock

Pittsburg County, OK

The TADD sign dedication ceremony was held in Pittsburg County on March 16, 2010, during National Flood Safety Awareness Week.  In attendance were Pittsburg County Emergency Management Officials, County Commissioners, Oklahoma Department of Transportation representatives, and the Service Hydrologist from WFO Tulsa.  The TADD signs were installed along State Highway 31 approximately 5 miles west of McAlester, OK.  According to the McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management Department, “this location has flooded for many years, and people have become complacent about driving into water over the road.  In recent years, there have been several water rescues, and cars drown out in the water.  These signs could reduce the risk of people driving off into water, and potentially save lives.”

The local newspaper, the McAlester News-Capital, ran an ‘above the fold’ story about the TADD signs and flood awareness in the March 15, 2010 print edition.  The dedication picture appeared in the March 19, 2010 paper.  The McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Managers hoped to obtain and install additional TADD signs through a partnership with the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association and the NWS.

SH51 TADD Sign Dedication Ceremony in Pittsburg Co. Pictured from left to right are, W.F. Grammar (Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation), Archie Rogers (Pittsburg Co. Dist. 3 Foreman), Donald Mathis (Pittsburg Co. Dist. 3 County Commissioner), Nicole McGavock (Service Hydrologist, WFO Tulsa), Rick Huddleston (Oklahoma Dept of Transportation), and Trent Myers (McAlester/Pittsburg Co. Emergency Management Director). Photo by Lois Lupardus, Asst. Director, McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management

Frequently flooded low portion of State Highway 51 approximately 5 miles west of McAlester, OK, in Pittsburg CO. Photo by Lois Lupardus, Asst. Director, McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management

Except for heat related fatalities, more deaths occur from flooding each year across the U.S. than any other weather hazard.  In Oklahoma, there have been 30 deaths and 20 injuries due to flash flooding since the mid 1990s.  The main reason flash flooding leads to so many deaths is that people underestimate the force and power of water.  For example, six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet and most cars can be swept away in just 18 to 24 inches of moving water.  Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream.  Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded or they drive into water of unknown depth and speed.  Since the mid 1990s, there have been at least 60 flash flood events across Osage County, and 40 flash flood events across Pittsburg County.  Flash flooding will continue to be a dangerous and potentially deadly threat to citizens throughout the eastern Oklahoma.