CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say a Claremore firefighter has died after being swept away by floodwaters while assisting in a water rescue from residences.
Claremore Fire Chief Sean Douglas says Capt. Jason Farley died while helping to rescue about 10 people who were trapped in duplexes by rising water. Farley was swept into a drainage ditch about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. His body was recovered about 1 a.m. Sunday.
The flooding is due to days of heavy rain throughout the state. The National Weather Service says recent storms have set a new monthly rainfall record for Oklahoma City. Through Saturday, Oklahoma City had received 18.19 inches of rain in May. The previous May rainfall record was in 14.52 inches in 2013, and the previous all-time monthly rainfall total was 14.66 inches in June 1989.