Winter Storm Continues to Impact State

Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Situation Update 4
12-10-07, 8 a.m.

Ice storm conditions continue to cause hazardous roads and power outages across a large portion of the state.

The Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office reports 11 fatalities related to the ice storm. All died in crashes on Oklahoma roads since Saturday night when the first round of freezing rain hit the state.

• Two people died in separate wrecks in Oklahoma County.
• One died in a crash in Canadian County.
• Two people died in separate accidents in Beckham County.
• One died in a crash in Tillman County.
• Four died in an accident in Okfuskee County.
• One person died in a collision in Tulsa County.

Additionally, troopers have worked more than 100 injury and non-injury collisions since Saturday night. OHP continues to discourage travel due to hazardous road conditions.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports statewide about 270,000 homes and businesses without electric service.

AEP-PSO reports about 125,000 customers without power, including 75,000 in the Tulsa metro area.

OG&E reports 116,778 without power, including 110,692 in the Oklahoma City metro area.

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives reports about 25,000 rural electric customers without power. Heaviest outages are in the northeast in an area along the I-44 corridor ice accumulations between one inch and one-and-a-quarter inch are reported on power lines.

Additionally, 3,365 outages are reported by municipally operated systems.

The American Red Cross is operating shelters at the following locations.

• Miami – Assembly of God Church, 1815 E. Steve Owens Blvd.
• Vinita – Emmanuel Temple, 437551 East Highway 60
• Collinsville – First Baptist Church, 1301 W. Main
• Del City – Community Center, 4505 SE 15th
• Tulsa – First Baptist Church, 403 S. Cincinnati
• Sand Springs – Community Center, 420 Plaza Court

OHP continues to discourage travel across much of the state. Motorists who must travel are reminded to slow down, increase distance between theirs and the next vehicle and to wear their seatbelts. For information regarding Oklahoma road conditions, call 888-425-2385. For road conditions in neighboring states call: Texas, 800-452-9292; Kansas, 866-511-5368; Arkansas, 800-245-1672; and Missouri, 800-222-6400.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports crews continue to plow and treat roadways. They have also been clearing some fallen trees and tree limbs. ODOT strongly encourages drivers not to get out if at all possible. If they must travel, motorists need to stay at least 200 feet behind road clearing equipment. These crews need room to maneuver and can engage plowing or spreading equipment without notice.

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