But, without question, we've come a long way. We know our location in "tornado alley" guarantees that Tulsa will flood again, and we're working to prepare for that inevitability. We're still building our program, and we're still learning. We are reaping benefits from national awards and favorable publicity. Since the City adopted comprehensive drainage regulations, we have no record of flooding in any structure built in accord with those regulations.īecause the federal government gave our program its highest ranking, Tulsans enjoy the lowest flood insurance rates in the country. We are forging strong partnerships with federal and state agencies.Īnd we've stopped creating new problems. We're building parks in the floodplains, sports fields in stormwater detention basins, and greenway trails on creek banks. It includes comprehensive watershed management, dedicated funds for maintenance and operation, a prototype alert system, and a $200 million capital improvements program. Today, Tulsa's floodplain and stormwater program is based on respect for the natural systems. Determined leaders crafted a unified program to curb flood losses. Our City responded to the shock of this killer flash flood with community-wide commitment to end our recurring disasters. The most devastating flood in our history hit in the mid-night hours of Memorial Day 1984. Each flood was worse than the one before. The federal government had declared Tulsa County a flood disaster area nine times in 15 years, more than any other community in the nation. Our community was founded a hundred years ago on a major river and has a long history of floods, compounded by post-war growth, floodplain development, and frequent rainstorms.īy the 1980s, Tulsa's flooding had reached singular proportions. Tulsa's flooding problems also mirror many other towns.
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