Case study examines flood hazard mitigation successes in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The 1984 Memorial Day Flood was arguably the worst flood event in Tulsa’s recorded history. Today, Tulsa is known as a success story in flood-hazard mitigation. Credit: Tulsa Tribune / Weather.gov

Tulsa, Oklahoma was one of the most flood-prone cities in the nation in the 1970’s. Now, it is known for its success in mitigating flood hazards. The South Central RISA team recently published a case study in the journal Natural Hazards Review that reveals some of the factors that contributed to Tulsa’s flood mitigation successes. The lessons learned can be applied to other communities who would like to increase their resilience to flooding.

Jazz on Tulsa Time: The Remarkable Story of the Network of Flood Mitigation Champions behind the Tulsa Turnaround highlights the importance of following the standard model for hazard mitigation. It also shows that promoting a diverse group of stakeholders with regard to their professional roles, personal characteristics, and relationships, is critical in order to cultivate the conditions for local champions of hazard mitigation to succeed.

Read more at the link below.