Record-setting rainfall and the ensuing widespread flooding in Oklahoma on Monday has led to at least one death, according to an Associated Press report. Many people had to be rescued from trees and roofs. It also stranded dozens of people [image-nocss] at Pops 66.
"We basically were our own island for about six hours [Monday] with access in and out only by rescue boat," Pops 66 general manager Marty Doepke told CSP Daily News. "The water got within six feet of the building and completely covered the parking lot and fuel pumps, but the store stayed dry. We fed and 'entertained' the customers who were stranded for the day. All together, we had 26 people trapped in the store."
He added, "Then as quickly as the flood came, the water receded and we were able to get out."
The facility sustained no damage he said. "Pops is fine," said Doepke. "We were very lucky there was no damage, and we already have cleaned up the mud and debris deposited on the property. We were back open for business [Tuesday] morning at 6:00 a.m."
The store's claim to fame is its selection of hundreds of brands of soda, as well as the 66-foot, illuminated soda bottle sculpture on site.
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of the store. Andclick here to read a CSP magazine feature profiling Pops 66.)
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