Flash Flood — Cooke, Texas

2007-06-18 · near Valley View, Cooke, Texas

Event narrative

Significant flooding occurred in the central portions of the county with numerous high water rescues required. People were forced to cut holes in their roofs in order to escape floodwaters in Gainesville, and several mobile homes were damaged. A mobile home along Pecan Creek was thrown into the floodwaters and came to stop only when it hit a bridge. Four family members were dumped into the creek and three of them drowned. Interstate 35 service roads and the northbound lane were flooded near Valley View. Interstate 35 had to be closed between Highway 82 and the Oklahoma border just north of Gainesville. Water was 2-3 feet deep over streets in Lindsay. A total of 300 homes and 75 businesses suffered water damage across the county, and 37,000 acres of crops were destroyed. The mayor estimated damages around $28 million, and the governor issued a disaster declaration for the county.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low lingered in the area for several days. An unstable atmosphere helped kick off several rounds of showers and storms. Boundaries helped focus rainfall totals over the same areas....leading to flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.4800, -97.1700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 37054. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.