Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Situation Update 8

January 13, 2007 -- 8:30 p.m.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated due to winter weather conditions that continue to impact areas of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas and has received the following reports.

Gov. Brad Henry's State of Emergency declaration for all 77 Oklahoma counties remains in effect. The declaration reiterates the availability of all state resources to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties. It also provides a formal mechanism for local governments to seek reimbursement for recovery costs through the state's disaster public assistance program should conditions warrant.

In addition to OEM, the Oklahoma Military Department, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), OG&E, American Red Cross and The Salvation Army are represented in the State EOC.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports two southwestern Oklahoma nursing homes have been affected by power failures. Marlow Nursing Home is now running on generator power. Thirty-eight patients from the Frederick Nursing Home were transferred to Frederick Memorial Hospital last evening when the nursing home lost power.

OEM worked with the ODOT and the Oklahoma Military Department to deliver generators to McAlester, Checotah and Calvin. The generators are needed to keep water treatment plants on-line due to power outages.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports statewide, about 92,450 electric customers are without power.

PSO reports 29,256 customers are without power throughout the state. Highest PSO outages are reported in McAlester, where 14,438 are without power, in Grove where 5,196 are without power and in Chouteau where 3,319 are without power. Other communities experiencing power outages are Atoka, Duncan, Lawton, Okmulgee, Tipton, Tulsa, Vinita and Wilburton.

OG&E reports 16,770 customers are without power. The largest OG&E outages are in Muskogee where 11,095 are without power and in Checotah, where 1,501 are without electricity. Other outages are reported in Ada, Ardmore, Bowlegs, Boynton, Braggs, Eufaula, Fort Gibson, Holdenville, Okay, Porum, Seminole, Taft and Warner.

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives reports 46,431 electric cooperative customers are without power. While structural damage to poles and structures has not been extensive, ice accumulations continue to develop, especially in eastern Oklahoma. Line crews from several cooperatives continue to report ice accumulations ranging from one-half to two inches in parts of eastern, northeastern and southeastern Oklahoma.

Below is a list of electric cooperatives, the location of their office and the number of power outages.

Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative (Seminole) - 2,000
Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative (Cookson Hills) - 1,180
Cotton Electric Cooperative (Walters) - 50
East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (Okmulgee) - 8,500
Kiamichi Electric Cooperative (Wilburton) - 3,000
Lake Region Electric Cooperative (Hulbert) - 7,200
Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (Vinita) - 21,000
Ozarks Electric Cooperative (Fayetteville, Ark.) - 400
People's Electric Cooperative (Ada) - 3,101

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports about 250 Canadian Valley Telephone customers are without service in the Canadian-Crowder area (Pittsburg County).

Since the ice storm began Friday morning, OHP has worked 201 collisions across the state. Officials with ODOT and OHP continue to discourage travel on the state's highways and interstates which are slick and hazardous in most areas. They also warn of black ice conditions in some areas. ODOT reports the following weather-related road closings: State Highway 131 in Atoka County; State Highway 63 in Pittsburg County between Kiowa and Haileyville; and, State Highway 31 west of McAlester in Pittsburg County. Crews continue to plow and deliver salt and sand on highways and interstates statewide. For information regarding Oklahoma roads, call 888-425-2385. For road conditions in neighboring states call: Texas, 888-425-2385; Kansas, 886-511-5368; Arkansas, 800-245-1672; and Missouri, 800-222-6400.

The American Red Cross is operating shelters in the following locations:

Altus – Altus City Gym
Cushing – Cushing Youth Center
El Reno – Jenks Simmons Field House
Muskogee – Muskogee Recreation Center
Mustang – Mustang Community Center
Perry – National Guard Armory
Stillwater – YMCA, First United Methodist Church, Stillwater County Center
Watonga – First Baptist Church
Yukon – Church of Christ, South 10th Street

American Red Cross and local officials have identified 40 additional sites where they will open shelters if weather conditions and power outages warrant.

The Salvation Army reports all permanent shelters are open accepting clients in Lawton, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Ardmore, Ada, Enid, Muskogee, Norman, Ponca City and Stillwater. They are serving meals at the shelters and providing meals to go. In Muskogee, the Salvation Army is providing blankets at the shelter that the American Red Cross is running. In many cities and towns, Salvation Army personnel are standing by to assist with shelters that may be necessary due to power outages. They are also assisting Woodward Police and the Woodward County Sheriff's Office with travelers' assistance needs.

###