Overview
- Persistent heavy weekend rain caused Spring Creek to rise rapidly and overtop normally dry roads, leaving a group of campers isolated by floodwaters.
- Tahlequah Fire Department crews navigated upstream in rescue boats because submerged roads and runoff made vehicle access impossible.
- All 15 campers were safely evacuated to dry land with no reported injuries, according to the fire department.
- The department released images showing flooded roadways and firefighters operating boats to reach the campsite, documenting the scale of the flooding.
- The incident followed multiple storm-related calls in the same period, including a lightning-caused chimney fire and earlier swift-water rescues, underscoring how quickly rural access can be cut off during heavy rains and the need for caution near creeks.