11 Oct 2017
Posted by Curtis Tucker 
ENID, OK – The “Enid Flood” took place October 10 and 11 of 1973. The storm was caused by a locally intense thunderstorm that was centered over Enid. This storm produced the greatest urban rainfall on record in Oklahoma. Rainfall accumulations were 15 to 20 inches within a 100 square mile area. A recorded 2 inches fell in 3 hours.
–
The cause of the storm was a low pressure center that moved northeastward along a slowly moving cold front. These two systems stalled over north-central Oklahoma, depositing record-breaking rainfall. The 24-hour rainfall total at Enid of 15.68 inches exceeded the previous record which occurred September 3-4, 1940 (at Sapulpa). Unofficial reports have put the amount at 20 inches of rain.
–
The rain in Enid actually fell in about 12 hours, with 75 percent of it falling in 4 hours. The severe flash flooding that resulted from the rainfall in Enid destroyed or severely damaged 300 homes and 40 businesses. The rainfall also contributed to nine deaths. In Garfield County alone, property damages were estimated at 8 million dollars, with damages to crops and land that climbed to some 13 million.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
South of St. Mary’s. Photo courtesy Mike and Wilma Nixon.
–
- October Meteor Showers - October 19, 2017
- OCTOBER 19 - October 19, 2017
- Dan Smith Leaving Williams Broadcasting - October 18, 2017
- Weather Forecast: Mostly Sunny, Lower 80s - October 18, 2017
- OCTOBER 18 - October 18, 2017
- OCTOBER 17 - October 17, 2017
- Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - October 16, 2017
- Enid Pinball League Dates - October 16, 2017
- Take The Kids To Leonardo’s Fall Festival - October 16, 2017
- OCTOBER 16 - October 16, 2017
8 Comments
Thanks. I was not living in the area at the time of this. I learned about it, because my aunt, uncle, & cousins were living in Brookside and flooded there. My take has always been that the flooding was mostly there in Brookside, but this set of pics adjusted that idea.
What an interesting story John. I never knew about the flood because I was living in Nashville, TN.
I remember this well. We lived at 1205 W. York. We were in the basement watching TV. Our basement had those windows that were kind of like a hole in the ground, right next to the foundation, allowing light into the basement. My little sister, 3, said “Look at all the water”. We all looked and the window ‘boxes’ had filled with water and it was starting to pour into the basement. Basement flooded a bit. Next day no school. I was in 5th grade. Rode my bike around the next day. Lots of sand in the road. Found a $5 bill in the sand. Took it to Next Door and had lunch, just like a big kid!
We were in Fairmont, planning to go to Enid for a church music event. My mom called and told us not to come because Enid was floodingn. We didn’t believe her because it wasn’t even raining in Fairmont!
I was 5 at the time and remember my grandma, who worked at St. Mary’s, getting stuck at work and people taking boats to pick up others stuck there as welll.
I was at St. Mary’s hospital, my husband ( at the time ) had been in motorcycle accident. I was there the night of the rain, went out to move my vehicle away from the creek around 7 PM. The water picked me up and moved me about 10 inches. I decided to leave my car Where it was. When the hospital lost power the generator came on and immediately drowned out, The next morning I found my car domino stacked on top of several others. The rear wheel was over my head, I stand 5 foot two. The National Guard brought boxed meals over for the patients, I helped deliver them to the rooms and checked on patients as the call lights did not work .
We had 3 1/2 feet of water in our new home in Valley View addition near Boggy creek. We had to lock arms and Wade out in water to our chest in an emergency. The water came in so fast. Got to end of street, and spent the night with several other people. No power.
I was living in Enid then. I have many memories of that evening and night and the next day.