Oklahoma City Homeowners Blame City for Flood Damage

Homeowners in a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood that had severe flooding in June 2010 say the city is to blame for the flooding.

The city denies the claim.

At least 17 households filed flood damage claims with the city in the final days before the one-year deadline for claims related to the June 14, 2010, flash flood. They claim the city deepened and widened Chisholm Creek without widening the area under a road bridge – resulting in a “choke point” that caused the floodwaters to back up into the neighborhood.

City public works director Dennis Clower denies the claim. Clower told The Oklahoman that the problem was 15 inches of rain falling in about six hours.

He said there is no way to design for that large amount of water.