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Deadly tornados tore through several Oklahoma communities on May 19, 20 and 31, 2013. These are the stories of natural disaster and its aftermath, and of communities healing and recovering.

Flooding Continues, Survey Teams Assess Friday Storm Damage

Norman Forecast Office
/
National Weather Service

Authorities in the Oklahoma City metro are discouraging travel Saturday morning due to flooding across the area.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office reports flooding on NE 23rd Street Hiawassee and Choctaw Rd. and other areas in Choctaw. Multiple roads in Deer Creek are also impassable from high water.

Overnight, deputies report assisting with 10 water rescues. The sheriff's office has also called in additional workers to help with traffic and road closures. 

Emergency officials are preparing to survey tornado damage again this morning following the second major fatal storm to strike the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in several days.

The National Weather Service says it will have survey teams looking at three areas: El Reno/Union City, southwest Oklahoma City and Valley Brook/Tinker Air Force Base.

Radar estimates show more than 10 inches of precipitation fell over a few hours during the height of Friday's storm.

Law enforcement officers and Red Cross damage assessment workers planned to head out at dawn to areas the tornadoes struck in the city and its suburbs.

Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner, said early Saturday that she had no word of additional fatalities beyond the five reported Friday night. Among them were a mother and baby.

Hospital officials say about 50 people were hurt. The storm bore down on an interstate highway as commuters tried to beat it home during evening rush hour.

On May 20, an even more powerful storm rolled into Moore, killing 24 people.

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