...FLOOD STAGE WILL CHANGE ON THE VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA WILL BE CHANGING THE FLOOD
STAGE ON THE VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE.  THE CURRENT FLOOD
STAGE OF 38 FEET WILL BE LOWERED TO 36 FEET EFFECTIVE 10 OCTOBER
2007.

FLOOD STAGE IS THE ELEVATION ABOVE GAGE ZERO AT WHICH OVERFLOW OF
THE NATURAL BANKS OF A STREAM BEGINS TO CAUSE DAMAGE OR PRESENT A
FLOOD-DAMAGE HAZARD.  IT IS DETERMINED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

DURING AN EVENT ON JULY 6TH...THE VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE
CRESTED AT 37.62 FEET.  THIS STAGE WAS AT A USGS RIVER GAGE ON THE
HIGHWAY 20 BRIDGE 5 MILES WEST OF CLAREMORE.  JUST UPSTREAM FROM THE
GAGE...BLUE STARR DRIVE HAD BECOME IMPASSABLE AS THE RIVER WAS NEAR
CREST.  THIS ISOLATED A FEW HOMES ON THE WEST END OF THE ROAD.

AFTER COORDINATING WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE
ROGERS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY...WE BELIEVE THE ROAD
BECAME IMPASSABLE WHEN THE VERDIGRIS RIVER WAS NEAR 36 FEET.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA IS THEREFORE CHANGING
THE FLOOD STAGE FOR THE VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE FROM 38 FEET
TO 36 FEET...EFFECTIVE 10 OCTOBER 2007.  THIS WILL MORE ACCURATELY
REFLECT THE STAGE AT WHICH FLOODING BEGINS.

THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS ALSO GIVEN THEIR CONCURRENCE TO THE
FLOOD STAGE CHANGE ON THE VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE.  LOCAL
OFFICIALS IN ROGERS COUNTY HAVE ALSO CONCURRED WITH THE CHANGE.

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FLOOD STAGE CHANGE ON THE
VERDIGRIS RIVER NEAR CLAREMORE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SERVICE
HYDROLOGIST AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN TULSA.  PLEASE
CALL US AT 918-838-7838...OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS BELOW.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
10159 EAST 11TH STREET SUITE 300
TULSA OK 74128-3050

$$

ALVIN HONG...SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
STEVEN PILTZ...METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE