Residents of the Choteau Bend area are rescued from rising floodwaters.
Mayes County Emergency Management officials used boats to get several residents out of their homes. John Janzen said now is the time to think about evacuating.
"I'm not saying you have to evacuate right this minute, but you need to be making plans for it. Don't wait until the water goes completely over your only exit route and then be stuck at your home," Janzen said.
Janzen said they may be called on for more water rescues as waters continue to rise.
"One for sure that I'm talking about is Cedar Crest up by Pensacola [Dam]. Their exit routes have already been cut off. It's about 2 foot deep," Janzen said. "If they do decide that they're going to have to leave, then we'll have to go get them with boats as well."
The Grand River Dam Authority has been discharging water from behind the overflowing Pensacola and Kerr dams. Both Grand Lake and Lake Hudson are far above normal levels after heavy rainfall over the weekend. Downstream residents were put on evacuation notice early Monday.
The Chouteau Bend area is on the Neosho River, downstream from Lake Hudson.
