State Receives Federal Emergency Declaration

Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Situation Update 7
12-11-07, 6:45 a.m.

President George Bush has approved Oklahoma’s request for an emergency declaration covering all 77 counties. The emergency declaration authorizes federal resources to assist state and local governments as they continue to respond to the Ice Storm.

Over night, industrial-sized generators and bottled water arrived from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Later today cots, blankets and meals ready to eat (MREs) are expected to arrive in the state as well. These resources will be deployed through the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to cities, towns and counties to support shelters and keep water treatment plants on-line. Please note these generators are industrial-size and NOT for residential use.

The number of Ice Storm-related fatalities remains at 12, according to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office. All died in motor vehicle accidents.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports statewide more than 592,000 homes and businesses are without electric service.

• AEP-PSO reports about 250,000 customers without power. Approximately 220,000 of those are in the Tulsa metro area.
• OG&E reports 276,242 customers without power, including 245,824 in the Oklahoma City metro area.
• Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives reports about 65,800 rural electric customers without power.

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