The fire department was circling the town with boats, and police were making sure no one sneaks back in.Ī few firefighters told KJRH television station reporters they had urged people to leave by telling them there was no way to know how the water is going to flood the streets. 'I mean this is an incredible amount of water we're looking at.' 'I'm thinking I can't believe this has gotten like this,' said resident Chris Adams. Almost all residents did evacuate, though.įor many, it's something they haven't had to do in 33 years. Most people left Wednesday night when the sheriff's department went through the town telling everyone about the barges making their way toward the dam.įor those who stayed - they were warned multiple times by police and fire to leave. She spoke at the ceremony Monday.WEBBERS FALLS, Oklahoma - Aside from first responders making their rounds, Webbers Falls, Oklahoma was a ghost town after evacuation orders were issued earlier this week. Terri Angier, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation when the bridge collapsed. 'Very surreal, tragic time': ODOT spokeswoman remembers 2002 Webbers Falls bridge collapse I think if I had not went out there there would have been a lot more off in there,' Pollard said.įormer Oklahoma Highway Patrol public information officer Chris West, who is the Canadian County, Oklahoma Sheriff today, remembered responding to the bridge disaster 20 years ago. I went out to one side of the bridge to try to keep more people from going off in it. 'I was on duty that morning and I got a call right after it happened. He saved lives by stopping traffic on the west side of the bridge on I-40. Pollard was on duty as a police officer in Webbers Falls when the bridge collapse. 'We haven't decided for sure yet,' Pollard said. 'I don't know if we will do this any more after this 20th anniversary,' Pollard said. ‘A helpless feeling’: Webbers Falls bridge collapse witness still thinks of those lost I-40 bridge disaster: How this Oklahoma reporter navigated tragedy and uncertainty to cover I-40 bridge disaster Pollard spoke at the ceremony Monday, to remember the 14 victims who died. Webbers Falls, Oklahoma Mayor John Pollard was a police officer when the Interstate 40 bridge collapsed May 26, 2002. Janette Barlow of Wimberley, Texas traveled to Webbers Falls Sunday to remember victim Gail Shanahan. Watching my kids grow up and knowing that Shae was just a year and a half difference from my youngest daughter,' Billie Eppler said. It's holidays with my children, things like that. She said holidays are difficult, even two decades later. We didn't find out for sure until Tuesday evening,' Eppler recalls. We were trying to catch them on their cellphones, (James and Misty Johnson) and just the unknown. 'It was a phone call from my mom asking me if I was okay. 'I was shocked': First trooper to arrive at Webbers Falls bridge disaster recalls scene Gone but not forgotten: Former mayor to host memorial in honor of Webbers Falls bridge tragedy Everybody loved Jim,' Eppler said.īillie Eppler said she remembers, 'disbelief,' when she answered a telephone call from her mother 20 years ago about the tragedy at Webbers Falls. He was just a great person in our area in our community. She talked about her late brother at Webbers Falls Monday. She said she lives with the memories of losing three family members among the 14 people who died. Billie Eppler of Alma is the sister of James Johnson who was at Webbers Falls Monday.

Webber falls ok barges