AARoads Forum

I will try to keep this road-related, but you just can't imagine how bad it looks. Way worse than May 3, 1999...

I saw a photo on Channel 4 that indicated the original US277 bridge across the Canadian River at Newcastle lost at least one span.  The bridge has not been open for traffic since the parallel US62 bridge was opened in 1964, but it carried some pipelines and IIRC some phone lines. 

I35 has been reopened in both directions through Moore, but all of the Moore exits from S19th north to Shields have been closed.  My niece works just 1/2 mile from the tornado path. She was not able to get home until after midnight. At one time, I35 was closed from Norman to I240. 

Please pray for the victims.  2 elemantary schools were hit.  Still quite a few missing, presumed dead.

rte66man

Quote from: rte66man on May 21, 2013, 08:25:08 AM
I will try to keep this road-related, but you just can't imagine how bad it looks. Wy worse than May 3, 1999...

I saw a photo on Channel 4 that indicated the original US277 bridge across the Canadian River at Newcastle lost at least one span.  The bridge has not been open for traffic since the parallel US62 bridge was opened in 1964, but it carried some pipelines and IIRC some phone lines. 

I35 has been reopened in both directions through Moore, but all of the Moore exits from S19th north to Shields have been closed.  My niece works just 1/2 mile from the tornado path. She was not able to get home until after midnight. At one time, I35 was closed from Norman to I240. 

Please pray for the victims.  2 elemantary schools were hit.  Still quite a few missing, presumed dead.

rte66man

This is the bridge in question (with photos of the damage) http://bridgehunter.com/ok/mcclain/bh37360/

I just got an email blast this evening from Kim Qualls (NE Kansas Public Affairs Manager for KDOT) relaying the following from ODOT.

Quote from: Kim Qualls
Our friends at the Oklahoma DOT would appreciate it if we could help them get the word out about discouraging travel through Oklahoma City on I-35. Here's why! Photo: http://ow.ly/i/2b99g/original OKDOT (sic) crews help pick up smaller debris along I-35.

Quote from: ODOT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2013
PR# 13-019

ODOT and OTA crews assisting with cleanup operations in Moore; travel strongly discouraged in the area

Beginning Monday evening, Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority crews statewide have been mobilizing and bringing equipment to the Moore area in Cleveland County to assist with cleanup efforts following Monday's violent storms. This morning, ODOT crews joined with those from other federal, state and local agencies as efforts switched focus from recovery operations to debris removal and cleanup.

Combined, roughly 400 ODOT and OTA crew members as well as 200 pieces of heavy equipment have been deployed to assist with debris clean-up efforts as requested. While the department's primary focus will be removal of debris from routes on the state highway system, such as I-35 and SH-37, about 60 maintenance workers have been assigned to assist with clearing major north/south local streets in Moore and southwest Oklahoma City. As debris removal continues, ODOT is working with city officials to ensure safe removal and disposal of rubble.

Emergency crews are requesting that drivers avoid I-35 in the Moore area, as heavy traffic continues to greatly hinder first responders, utility crews and other crews assisting with cleanup operations in the area. The public can help the cleanup and relief effort by avoiding I-35 in the Moore area and locating an alternate route.

While the interstate is open, drivers should expect temporary lane closures on north and southbound I-35 through Moore. The I-35 off-ramps at S. 4th Street, S. 19th Street and Indian Hills Road are closed to the public and reserved for emergency personnel. Drivers should use alternate routes if they have to be in the area, but are strongly advised to stay off of I-35 in this area.

In addition to cleanup work, ODOT crews are assisting with traffic control at these ramps. Crews from ODOT and OTA will continue to assist other agencies with emergency operations in Moore as long as necessary.

–www.okladot.state.ok.us–

Had to go up through the tornado area on I-35 today (9 days after the tornado). Roadgeek points of interest:

• Approaching the area in both directions are VMSes: "CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION/CONGEST TRAFFIC AHEAD" and "NO SLOWING THROUGH/DISASTER AREA". Drivers appeared to be paying the second instruction little heed; traffic was seriously snarled through the disaster area, for no apparent reason other than rubbernecking. The permanent overhead VMS in the middle of the damage path was displaying a "Click it or ticket" message.
  
• One of the ground-mount BGSes on NB I-35 was ripped up and tossed through someone's fence. Can't remember for sure which one it was, but it was on of the supplementary signs for the OK-37 exit.
• At the OK-37 exit, the gantry still stands, and the left panel (advance for N. 12th St.) is still entirely serviceable. The only thing that remains of the right panel (the exit direction sign) is the exit tab and the bottom segment of the panel.
• Southbound, there appeared to be little damage to road hardware. One of the BGSes had so much dirt on the back that it looked almost like the back of it had been painted brown.
• It appears that street name signs in the affected area have already been replaced. Curiously, rather than the Moore-standard blue with city seal, these are all green, with mixed-case Series C–a dead ringer for Norman's current blade style. I wonder if the Norman road department ran a batch of signs for Moore and donated them. It would be hard to tell streets apart in the affected area otherwise, since without signs or buildings all of the roads look alike.

I don't know that the damage was worse than May 3... both this and the May 3 tornado were EF5 and you can't really do much more damage than complete obliteration of buildings...Having seen both, the May 20 damage is appeared similar to May 3, and, at least as far as I saw and remember, May 3 had a wider (and I believe longer) damage path. What makes May 20 worse is what it happened to hit (the two elementary schools, which were very near each other on opposite sides of Santa Fe Ave.–both are labeled on Google Maps if you want to find them).

Quote from: Scott5114 on May 30, 2013, 04:20:58 AM
Had to go up through the tornado area on I-35 today (9 days after the tornado).........

I don't know that the damage was worse than May 3... both this and the May 3 tornado were EF5 and you can't really do much more damage than complete obliteration of buildings...Having seen both, the May 20 damage is appeared similar to May 3, and, at least as far as I saw and remember, May 3 had a wider (and I believe longer) damage path. What makes May 20 worse is what it happened to hit (the two elementary schools, which were very near each other on opposite sides of Santa Fe Ave.—both are labeled on Google Maps if you want to find them).

Agreed.  The 14 year time lapse meant that the May 3 tornado hit many areas that were still fields or sparsely developed on the west side of Moore.  Those same areas 14 years later were fulll of housing developments and businesses. 

rte66man

Quote from: Scott5114 on May 30, 2013, 04:20:58 AMThe permanent overhead VMS in the middle of the damage path was displaying a "Click it or ticket" message.

why not set that one to "no rubbernecking, shitheads - minimum speed 55mph" - and issue ticket after ticket for people driving too slowly.  donate all the ticket revenue to the cleanup/recovery fund, and no one could legitimately complain.

Quote from: Scott5114 on May 30, 2013, 04:20:58 AM
Had to go up through the tornado area on I-35 today (9 days after the tornado). Roadgeek points of interest:......

• It appears that street name signs in the affected area have already been replaced. Curiously, rather than the Moore-standard blue with city seal, these are all green, with mixed-case Series C—a dead ringer for Norman's current blade style. I wonder if the Norman road department ran a batch of signs for Moore and donated them. It would be hard to tell streets apart in the affected area otherwise, since without signs or buildings all of the roads look alike.

from News9.com:

Quote
MOORE, Oklahoma -

Well-needed street signs are making life for Moore residents a bit easier. City leaders say the issues facing insurance adjusters, contractors and residents were compounded without the simple signage.

"We didn't know where we lived," tornado victim Stacie Hymel said. "We just looked for something familiar."

Hymels' neighbor, Tammy Craig, said it was difficult to find her property because everything looked the same.

"Without a number, you're begging people to tell you what street you're on," Craig said.

Stacie and Tammy are upbeat and positive even though they lost their homes. They are moving forward, calling insurance companies and government agencies.

"I had FEMA out here the second day after, and they were lost," Craig said. "The street signs would have been wonderful."

Steve Eddy, Moore city manager, says his city's quick response with street signs was a lesson learned from May 3, 1999.

The street signs are currently green, but city officials say the signs will be back to the standard blue color in the future. The temporary signs are courtesy of the cities of Edmond and Norman. The two cities printed the signs while the American Public Works Association backed the project.

The City of Moore says permanent street signs will not go in until the debris removal is finished to prevent the poles from being knocked over by heavy equipment.

rte66man[/list]

That's awesome. I'm glad Edmond and Norman are stepping up to help their neighbor.

Quote from: Scott5114 on May 30, 2013, 04:20:58 AM
The permanent overhead VMS in the middle of the damage path was displaying a "Click it or ticket" message.

The VMSs around here have the same message.

We can't catch a break.  A tornado hit BA tonight (I was in downtown Tulsa at the Paul McCartney show when it hit) and several tornadoes hit Polk County, AR.

Quote from: bugo on May 31, 2013, 03:20:43 AM
We can't catch a break.  A tornado hit BA tonight (I was in downtown Tulsa at the Paul McCartney show when it hit) and several tornadoes hit Polk County, AR.

And US 71 is closed from Y City to Mena due to flooding. :o

And it just keeps happening  :-/

Quote from: bugo on May 31, 2013, 03:20:43 AM
We can't catch a break.  A tornado hit BA tonight (I was in downtown Tulsa at the Paul McCartney show when it hit) and several tornadoes hit Polk County, AR.

Same here. We had an unusual supercell that came out of the northwest and tracked southeast. For a while there it was looking like downtown OKC was going to take a direct hit. Ended up making a hard right and hitting Moore and Norman. Everything is fine where I am, though the wind tore part of a gutter off my house and someone's trash can is in my driveway.

Since the storms sort of formed a train through the southern half of Oklahoma County, they are experiencing flooding right now. Downtown OKC has several inches of water on the roadways.

A cold front is supposed to blow through Saturday and perhaps create another round of storms, but will get the instability outta there.

Spring storms were dampened by the late cool weather, but they weren't denied. Oklahoma needs a break.

I have to admit, I was entertained by all the idiots who were driving through high water and got stuck.  News9 had a crew at SW27th and May (RR underpass) and saw at least 3 SUV's flood out thinking they could get through even though there was a van that had water up to its doors already stuck.

rte66man

The storms had created a giant sinkhole http://jalopnik.com/storms-rip-open-giant-sinkhole-in-oklahoma-510879145

Quote from: rte66man on June 01, 2013, 05:38:31 PM
I have to admit, I was entertained by all the idiots who were driving through high water and got stuck.  News9 had a crew at SW27th and May (RR underpass) and saw at least 3 SUV's flood out thinking they could get through even though there was a van that had water up to its doors already stuck.

rte66man

Apparently KFOR meteorologist Mike Morgan told people on air to try to outrun the storm by heading south. Their Facebook page is taking a beating because of it. I'm sure that a significant amount of the people who got their cars flooded out wouldn't have been out and about had Morgan not made that boneheaded comment.

Quote from: Scott5114 on June 02, 2013, 01:46:20 PM

Apparently KFOR meteorologist Mike Morgan told people on air to try to outrun the storm by heading south. Their Facebook page is taking a beating because of it. I'm sure that a significant amount of the people who got their cars flooded out wouldn't have been out and about had Morgan not made that boneheaded comment.

I can't help but wonder how many people got hurt because of this?

My condolences to the AAroad members and anyone else affected.

Last month, an Oklahoma tourism agency/group/whatever heavily advertised on Youtube about vacationing in Oklahoma. In hindsight, the advertisements were poorly timed, as they pulled them after the first tornado stuck.

Quote from: Zmapper on June 02, 2013, 06:22:12 PM
My condolences to the AAroad members and anyone else affected.

Last month, an Oklahoma tourism agency/group/whatever heavily advertised on Youtube about vacationing in Oklahoma. In hindsight, the advertisements were poorly timed, as they pulled them after the first tornado stuck.

One of the local TV stations here (40/29, I think) got a lot of grief on their Facebook page for running the ads during the storm.

Oklahoma is actually a great place to visit, especially if you like scenery and outdoor activities.  We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.  We have everything from mountains to deserts to eastern style forests to mesas to grasslands to eroded plateaus.  We also have world class accommodations like the Oklahoma Aquarium, Cain's Ballroom, and the BOK Center, plus all the attractions in OKC.  Yeah, the weather can be bipolar and we get earthquakes but part of the Oklahoma experience is going outside during a tornado warning to see if you can see the funnel cloud.

Quote from: bugo on June 02, 2013, 09:06:18 PM
We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.

Do you work for the local Chamber of Commerce? :P

Oklahoma's great if you can tolerate the weather, the politics, and country music.

I personally find the weather the easiest to deal with.  :-D

Quote from: Zmapper on June 02, 2013, 10:44:29 PM

Quote from: bugo on June 02, 2013, 09:06:18 PM
We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.

Do you work for the local Chamber of Commerce? :P

He should work for one of the Info Centers ;)

Quote from: US71 on June 03, 2013, 04:07:34 AM

Quote from: Zmapper on June 02, 2013, 10:44:29 PM

Quote from: bugo on June 02, 2013, 09:06:18 PM
We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.

Do you work for the local Chamber of Commerce? :P

He should work for one of the Info Centers ;)

I've lived in Oklahoma most of my adult life and don't want to live anywhere else.  I've traveled to about 35 states and 20 other countries and always look forward to getting home.  Will Rogers once said, "If you don't like the weather in OK, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.  @Scott, I happen to LOVE country music.

rte66man

Quote from: Zmapper on June 02, 2013, 10:44:29 PM

Quote from: bugo on June 02, 2013, 09:06:18 PM
We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.

Do you work for the local Chamber of Commerce? :P

I'm just repeating what I heard on TV.

Quote from: Scott5114 on June 03, 2013, 02:45:02 AM
Oklahoma's great if you can tolerate the weather, the politics, and country music.

I personally find the weather the easiest to deal with.  :-D

It depends on your definition of "country music".

Quote from: rte66man on June 03, 2013, 08:39:51 AM

Quote from: US71 on June 03, 2013, 04:07:34 AM

Quote from: Zmapper on June 02, 2013, 10:44:29 PM

Quote from: bugo on June 02, 2013, 09:06:18 PM
We have the most diverse terrain per square mile in the country.

Do you work for the local Chamber of Commerce? :P

He should work for one of the Info Centers ;)

I've lived in Oklahoma most of my adult life and don't want to live anywhere else.  I've traveled to about 35 states and 20 other countries and always look forward to getting home.  Will Rogers once said, "If you don't like the weather in OK, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.  @Scott, I happen to LOVE country music.

rte66man

I like some country.  Real country, not Nashville hat acts.  I like old country and alt-country.  Johnny Cash was the man.

Quote from: bugo on June 03, 2013, 09:06:34 AMNashville hat acts

I think Hank III had a great descriptor that rhymed with Nashville.

Quote from: rte66man on June 03, 2013, 08:39:51 AM
Will Rogers once said, "If you don't like the weather in OK, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.

Everybody says that about wherever they live.  It seems to cover most of the United States.  They even say it in other countries.

Quote from: kphoger on June 03, 2013, 01:40:18 PM

Quote from: rte66man on June 03, 2013, 08:39:51 AM
Will Rogers once said, "If you don't like the weather in OK, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.

Everybody says that about wherever they live.  It seems to cover most of the United States.  They even say it in other countries.

That is true, but especially in Oklahoma.  We have everything from F5 tornadoes to 115+ degree heat to ice storms to blizzards to 0 degree winter nights to thunderstorms to tropical storm remnants to nice 55 degree days.  We also get earthquakes.  And the wind is always blowing.  We get a little of just about everything except for coastal weather like hurricanes and noreasters.

Quote from: bugo on June 03, 2013, 07:46:58 PM

Quote from: kphoger on June 03, 2013, 01:40:18 PM

Quote from: rte66man on June 03, 2013, 08:39:51 AM
Will Rogers once said, "If you don't like the weather in OK, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.

Everybody says that about wherever they live.  It seems to cover most of the United States.  They even say it in other countries.

That is true, but especially in Oklahoma.  We have everything from F5 tornadoes to 115+ degree heat to ice storms to blizzards to 0 degree winter nights to thunderstorms to tropical storm remnants to nice 55 degree days.  We also get earthquakes.  And the wind is always blowing.  We get a little of just about everything except for coastal weather like hurricanes and noreasters.

But you don't really get 115+ degree heat in the same day or even week as ice storms.  Truth be told, you actually need to head quite a bit farther north to find the really crazy fluctuations.

Granville, ND:  83° rise in 12 hours (2/21/1918)
Fort Assiniboine, MT:  42° rise in 15 minutes (1/19/1892)
Kipp, MT:  30 inches of snow disappeared in half a day (12/1/1896)
Loma, MT:  103° rise in 24 hours (1/14/1972 to 1/15/1972)
Great Falls, MT:  47° rise in 7 minutes (1/11/1980)
Spearfish, SD:  49° rise in 2 minutes (1/22/1943)

Browning, MT:  100° drop in 24 hours (1/23/1916 to 1/24/1916)
Fairfield, MT:  84° drop in 12 hours (12/24/1924)
Rapid City, SD:  75° drop in 2 hours (11/10/1911)

Quote from: kphoger on June 03, 2013, 08:30:28 PM
Spearfish, SD:  49° rise in 2 minutes (1/22/1943)
Rapid City, SD:  75° drop in 2 hours (11/10/1911)

these two are very close to each other.

more info here:
http://www.blackhillsweather.com/chinook.html

We sometimes have 40-50 degree drops in 24 hours.  It goes from jacket/heater weather to shorts/air conditioning weather in one day quite often.  Yesterday when I got off at 7 am, it was almost chilly, in the 50s.  When I left at 12:30 pm, it was hot and my car felt like an oven, with temps in the upper 80s.  This is typical for Oklahoma.

Quote from: bugo on June 04, 2013, 05:06:34 AM
We sometimes have 40-50 degree drops in 24 hours.  It goes from jacket/heater weather to shorts/air conditioning weather in one day quite often.  Yesterday when I got off at 7 am, it was almost chilly, in the 50s.  When I left at 12:30 pm, it was hot and my car felt like an oven, with temps in the upper 80s.  This is typical for Oklahoma.

It's also typical for a great many desert locations.

Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2013, 02:41:37 PM

Quote from: bugo on June 04, 2013, 05:06:34 AM
We sometimes have 40-50 degree drops in 24 hours.  It goes from jacket/heater weather to shorts/air conditioning weather in one day quite often.  Yesterday when I got off at 7 am, it was almost chilly, in the 50s.  When I left at 12:30 pm, it was hot and my car felt like an oven, with temps in the upper 80s.  This is typical for Oklahoma.

It's also typical for a great many desert locations.

The record temp variance in 24 hours in OK is 83 degrees dropping to 11 degrees.  On 11/11/11 no less.

rte66man

It happens, yes.  But, in all the stats I looked up, I only recall seeing Oklahoma pop up once.

Quote from: Scott5114 on June 02, 2013, 01:46:20 PM

Quote from: rte66man on June 01, 2013, 05:38:31 PM
I have to admit, I was entertained by all the idiots who were driving through high water and got stuck.  News9 had a crew at SW27th and May (RR underpass) and saw at least 3 SUV's flood out thinking they could get through even though there was a van that had water up to its doors already stuck.

rte66man

Apparently KFOR meteorologist Mike Morgan told people on air to try to outrun the storm by heading south. Their Facebook page is taking a beating because of it. I'm sure that a significant amount of the people who got their cars flooded out wouldn't have been out and about had Morgan not made that boneheaded comment.

I was watching the live stream as I have family in the OKC area and absolutely could not believe what he was telling people. In fact, going south is what killed storm chaser Tim Samaras, his son, and co-worker.

Sad news: Looks like ODOT (or whoever) decided to go ahead and demolist the rest of the Newcastle Bridge. There was only one span still standing when I went by there today.

Traffic is still balling up in Moore.

Quote from: Scott5114 on June 13, 2013, 10:49:39 PM
Sad news: Looks like ODOT (or whoever) decided to go ahead and demolist the rest of the Newcastle Bridge. There was only one span still standing when I went by there today.

Traffic is still balling up in Moore.

What of the gas line?

Quote from: Scott5114 on June 13, 2013, 10:49:39 PM
Sad news: Looks like ODOT (or whoever) decided to go ahead and demolist the rest of the Newcastle Bridge. There was only one span still standing when I went by there today.

I will try to get out there tomorrow morning and get some pics of whatever's left.

rte66man