Ice Storm Continues to Impact State

Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Situation Update 11
12-12-07, 9 p.m.

A federal emergency declaration remains in place for all 77 Oklahoma counties authorizing federal resources to in the Ice Storm response. All 77 counties also remain under a State of Emergency and the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated. In addition to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM), agencies and organizations represented at the EOC include the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Military Department, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, OG&E, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

The following federal resources have arrived in the state and are being deployed to cities and towns through the State EOC: 108,000 liters of bottled water; 4,000 cots; 8,000 blankets; 43,776 meals ready to eat (MREs); 3,100 rolls of plastic sheeting, enough to cover 2,000 damaged roofs; and, 117 industrial-size generators, primarily for shelters and to keep water treatment plants on-line. Please note these generators are industrial-size and NOT for residential use.

To help identify and document the need for federal Individual Assistance related to this week’s ice storm, OEM will open a call center at 7 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13. Residents and business owners who have uninsured ice-storm damages are urged to call the toll-free Oklahoma Damage Assessment Hotline at (866) 560-7584 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Operators will be on-hand to take the calls daily. The hotline is needed to gather damage information that, in turn, will strengthen the state’s application for federal disaster assistance for individuals and business owners. The damage reports will identify where damage assessment teams need to check in an effort to build the case that many Oklahomans need disaster assistance. Callers will be asked to provide their name, address of the damaged property and the type of damage their property sustained. They will also be asked if they sustained financial loss because their business or place of employment was closed due to the storm.

Additionally, joint teams of FEMA, state and local officials will begin assessing infrastructure damage in the areas hardest hit by the ice storm. The preliminary damage assessments are needed to support a request for federal Public Assistance for cities, towns and counties. The teams will be looking at roads, bridges and public facilities damaged by the storm, as well as the costs associated with debris removal.

The number of Ice Storm-related fatalities is 21, according to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office; 13 died in motor vehicle crashes, including one who died when a utility pole fell on his vehicle in Tulsa; 3 died in a house fire in Oklahoma City: 1 died in a house fire in Bristow; 2 died in separate house fires in Tulsa; 1 died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Oklahoma City; and 1 died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Claremore.

A Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative lineman remains hospitalized after being injured Tuesday.

Hospitals continue to see an increased number of patients with symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

EMSA reports paramedics have responded to 775 calls since midnight Sunday, including more than 20 carbon monoxide poisonings; 133 falls/traumatic injuries and 67 motor vehicle accidents.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports statewide 414,614 homes and businesses are without electric service. The power outage number has decreased by about 83,000 since 6:30 a.m. today.

AEP-PSO reports 185,782 customers without power, including 178,507 in the Tulsa metro area and 3,799 in Vinita.

OG&E reports 186,290 customers without power, including 166,779 in the Oklahoma City metro area and 6,698 in Sapulpa.

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives reports about 42,542 rural electric customers without power, including 9,700 Northeast Oklahoma Electric, 7,500 Verdigris Valley Electric and 7,000 Oklahoma Electric customers. OAEC also reports 1,863 electric poles destroyed.

Nearly 1,700 out of state crews are in Oklahoma assisting with power restoration efforts. The electric line and tree-trimming crews are from Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio and Virginia.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Friday morning through Saturday morning covering an area north of a line from Hollis to Lawton to Asher. Snowfall of two to four inches is expected. Isolated areas in north-central and northwest Oklahoma could see more than four inches of snow. Temperatures will fall below freezing tonight, with no precipitation expected. Thursday will be a little warmer with temperatures in the low 40s and calm winds. Winter weather will return to the state on Friday with snow the primary threat. The snow should end by Saturday afternoon in eastern Oklahoma. Northerly winds will pick up to 10-20mph on Friday and Saturday.

Shelters are open at the following 37 locations.

• Bartlesville - First Baptist Church, 405 S. Cherokee
• Bixby - New Beginnings Church, 4104 E. 151st
• Bristow - Bristow Indian Community Center, 710 S. Main
• Broken Arrow - Arrow Heights Church, 3201 S. Elm Place
• Carney - Community Center, 701 S. Highway 177
• Chandler - First Baptist Church, 912 W. First
• Claremore - First United Methodist Church, 1615 N. Highway 88
• Collinsville - First Baptist Church, 1301 W. Main
• Commerce - Southeast Baptist Church, 206 Amarillo Drive
• Coweta - First Assembly of God, 29707 E. SH 51
• Cushing - Cushing Jr. High School
• Del City - Community Center, 4505 SE 15th
• Guthrie -  Education Building at Fair Grounds
• Jennings - First Baptist Church, 602 N. Main
• Ketchum - Methodist Church, 206 Amarillo Drive
• Mannford - Community Activity Center, 100 Common Ave.
• Miami - Assembly of God, 1815 E. Steve Owens Blvd.
• Moore - Brand Senior Center, 501 E. Main
• Norman - North Haven Church, 4600 NW. 36
• Newcastle - 851 N. Car
• Oklahoma City - Cox Center
• Okmulgee - Twin Hills Indian Community, 8110 Hwy 52 and 16
• Owasso - First Christian, 96th Street Nand 122nd Ave. East
• Paden - Freewill Baptist Church
• Pitcher - 100 Deville Creek
• Pryor - Community Center, 6 N. Adair
• Rolling Hills - Community Center, 20 E. 200 E Ave.
• Sapulpa - First Church of God, 1011 E. Austain
• Shawnee - Expo Center, 1700 W. Independence
• Sperry - First Baptist Church, 115 N. Cincinnati
• Tulsa - First Baptist Church, 403 S. Cincinnati
• Tulsa - Asbury United Methodist Church, 6767 S. Mingo
• Tulsa - Lutheran Church of Good Sheppard, 8730 E. Skelly Drive
• Tulsa - Tulsa Indian Community, 8611 S. Union
• Vera - Fire Department
• Welch - Welch Civic Center, 600 S. Curtis
• Yale - Yale Senior Center

The American Red Cross reports 2,626 individuals stayed at shelters last night.

The Salvation Army continues to assist with feeding and shelter efforts in Ada, Bartlesville, Norman, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Tulsa.

More than 12,000 meals have been served in shelters and to first responders.

ODOT reports one state highway remains closed because of weather-related conditions. In the Tulsa area, SH-97 north of Sand Springs is closed due to fallen power lines and trees. Earlier today, SH-11 north of Skiatook (in Osage, Washington and Tulsa counties) was opened after debris from fallen trees was removed. Although roadways are open, crews continue debris removal and motorists are asked to be cautious in areas where they are working. Additionally, night time drops in temperature could cause refreezing of water on the roadways, particularly on bridges and overpasses. Motorists should be aware of “black ice" which appears wet on the roadway, but is a thin layer of ice.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority continues to encourage motorists to fuel up before getting on the Turner and Will Rogers turnpikes. Due to power outages, fuel is not available on the Will Rogers turnpike and is only available at the Chandler Service Plaza on the Turner Turnpike.

For Oklahoma Road Conditions call 888-425-2385, a toll-free information line operated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. For road conditions in neighboring states call: Texas, 800-452-9292; Kansas, 866-511-5368; Arkansas, 800-245-1672; and Missouri, 800-222-6400.

For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact your local 2-1-1. Services are available 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1 from your home or cellular telephone in the following counties. Due to high call volumes, you may receive a busy signal when calling 2-1-1. We are here 24/7, so please continue to call 2-1-1 for disaster related information.

Tulsa Area/Green Country, dial 2-1-1 or 918-836-4357

OKC Metro/Central OK, dial 2-1-1 or 405-286-4057

Southeastern OK, dial 2-1-1 or 580-332-0558

Northeast OK, dial 2-1-1 or 918-336-2255

Southwest OK, dial 2-1-1 or 580-355-7575

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