This week motorist will notice several new signs in Okmulgee County placed there to warn of the dangers of driving into flooded roadways.
The new signs warn drivers that “When Flooded Turn Around Don't Drown”.
Last year, in the U.S. 85 people lost their lives to freshwater flooding. More than half of those fatalities were a result of people driving into floodwaters. With $8.3 billion in damages annually, flooding causes more property damage in the United States than any other weather related event.
These new flood safety signs were made available by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board through the Floodplain mangers for Okmulgee County and City of Dewar.
Signs were installed in several locations the City of Dewar and along Arbeka Road in southern Okmulgee County.