County Emergency Director Dennis Bonewell is urging residents along the Chikaskia River to prepare for flood waters.
“This is going to be a flood,” he said. “Residents need to be aware and prepare.”Today the National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning for the area as the river is forecast to crest at 29.9 at approximately 1p.m. Wednesday.
Flood stage is 29.
The NWS advises that if the river rises to 30 feet, several residences in Blackwell could be surrounded with 2 feet of water and that Highway 177 north of Blackwell may be flooded and parts of Hubbard Road could become impassable southeast of Blackwell.
Farmlands could also be covered by floodwaters ranging up to 2 feet in depth in extreme NE Grant and Kay counties.
Bonewell said the homes in the area of Main and Doolin are usually affected and he is urging residents at Blackwell Lake to be prepared.
Bonewell said he wouldn’t be surprised if this week the river doesn’t reach 32 feet.
“That is just my opinion based on my experience with the river.”
The National Weather Service reported at 11:30 a.m. that the river was at 15.09 feet.