Event narrative (NOAA)
The Poteau River near Panama rose above its flood stage of 29 feet at 2:15 am CDT on May 10th. The river crested at 43.54 feet at 1:00 am CDT on the 12th, resulting in major flooding. Very severe agricultural flooding occurred and many county roads were totally impassable. One flood-related fatality occurred at around 3:30 am CDT on the 11th near Spiro when a man tried to rescue cattle that had been inundated by flood waters. He drown and was found on May 13th. The river fell below flood stage at 11:30 pm CDT on the 15th.
Other notable flood events in Oklahoma
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.