Unpredictable weather has been the bane of emergency preparedness folks around these parts; these days it seems every glimpse of sun is followed by a downpour.
This spring has inspired us to expand our vocabulary. Words such as floodgates, river levels, levees, spillways and the cubic feet per second discharge rate from the John Redmond Dam now come second nature.
Our measuring stick for alarm remains the 26.9-foot crest of the Neosho River in 2007 that flooded more than 120 area homes and businesses. When predicted to exceed that by almost five feet last week, many evacuated their homes and moved their belongings to higher ground.
That it didnt happen is a blessing. Wed much rather be able to prepare for the worst than be caught off guard.
Not all communities have been as lucky, including those in Erie and Coffeyville, where wide swaths have been inundated with floodwaters.
Strong storms are also causing death and destruction.
In El Reno, Okla., a tornado caught citizens off-guard Saturday night.
The towns warning sirens sounded too late, minutes after the storm hit, though those with cell phones were alerted a few minutes prior to its landing. Two died and 29 were injured in the storm which in its 2.2-minute journey took a very narrow path through town.
No doubt emergency officials are frustrated that many residents didnt take the warning seriously.
We hear them all the time here, so it didnt seem like a big deal, said Elton Farrison of El Renos warning system.
Thats the worry. You cry wolf too many times and people make light of alerts.
But recent history is teaching us that in terms of flooding, its becoming the new norm. In just the last 12 years weve had three substantial floods and as such should plan for more.
ACROSS the Upper Midwest, a long winter followed by heavy spring rains has caused an estimated $3 billion in damages and lost production. Corn and soybeans stored over the winter are lost. Repairing and replacing damaged roads and bridges across the region will cost hundreds of millions. Also to be considered are the thousands of structures damaged beyond repair by the high waters.
Locally, hundreds of acres of corn remain under water.
And every weeks delay in planting corn means a possible shift to a shorter-season variety, a switch to soybeans or even passing the season up entirely.
Nationally, only 49% of farmers, far below the 80% average by this time of the year, have planted corn, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. For soybeans, only 19% are in the ground, compared to a 47% average.
