Situation Update 4

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Flooding/Hurricane Ike – Situation Update 4
September 14, 2008 – 4:30 p.m.

Oklahoma continues to wrangle with the effects of Tropical Depression Lowell while continuing to stand by to assist those impacted by Hurricane Ike.

Since Tropical Depression Lowell entered the state Thursday, flooding has occurred in numerous Oklahoma communities, including Blackwell, Burlington, Fairview, Lamont and Pond Creek. In most areas the water has receded or is in the process of receding.

In Blackwell an estimated 800 residents may have been displaced due to flooding in eastern and northern areas of the city. About 250 homes were flooded after the Chikaskia River exceeded its banks early Saturday morning. At midnight today the Chikaskia River measured record level at 35.3 feet. Flood stage is 29 feet. The river has crested and at noon the river was at 34.89 feet. Flood waters continue to recede in the area. Saturday the American Red Cross opened a shelter. Four people stayed Saturday night and the shelter is now closed.

Residents in Burlington and Fairview continue clean up from flooding experienced Thursday and Friday. Some Burlington residents were evacuated Friday after Turkey Creek exceeded its banks. In Fairview, nearly 12 inches of rain delivered more than four feet of flood water in some homes. In Burlington and Fairview about 100 homes sustained damage.

Flooding also occurred in the Grant County communities of Lamont and Pond Creek. On Saturday, Wal-Mart donated bottled water to both municipalities after flood waters inundated water systems.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) will be in Fairview and Burlington on Monday to begin damage assessments. OEM will be in other impacted communities after flood waters recede.

State and local officials remain on standby to assist those impacted by Hurricane Ike.

Texas evacuees in Oklahoma are directed to contact 211 if they need information regarding local social service programs. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has posted signs displaying the 211 message on key travel routes.

Oklahoma has reached out to Texas and stands ready to receive evacuee transport if necessary. The evacuees would be housed at the shelter located in the former Lucent Technology Center, 7725 W. Reno in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) officials are working directly with City of Oklahoma City officials to support operation of the shelter and deliver necessary resources. The same facility was used after Hurricane Gustav to shelter about 1,800 Louisiana evacuees.

Anyone who suspects price gouging is urged to contact the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at (405) 521-2029. Oklahoma's price gouging statute is in effect in all 77 counties due to the State of Emergency Gov. Brad Henry declared earlier this week. The price gouging statute prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent in the price of most goods and services when a State of Emergency has been declared. The Attorney General’s Office will investigate any price gouging reports received.

The State of Emergency declaration also paves the way for the state to receive federal disaster assistance to cover expenses should Oklahoma receive evacuees.

Saturday the remnants of Hurricane Ike delivered rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches across the eastern one third of the state. No rain is expected the next five days.

ODOT continues to report highways closed due to high water. If a highway is not on this list, or has been removed, it is open.

SH-11 from north of Cherokee, extending north, then east to Byron and west to the Woods County line

SH-8 from SH-11 north to the Kansas state line

SH-58 from Byron north to the Kansas state line

US-81 from Medford to the Kansas state line

US-60 from Pond Creek east to the SH-74 junction

US-177 in Blackwell at the SH-11 junction

US-77 south of Tonkawa at the Salt Fork River

SH-156 between Marland and the US-60 junction

US-60 north of Fairview north to Cleo Springs

For road conditions in Texas call (800) 452-9292, in Arkansas call (800) 245-1672, in Missouri call (800) 222-6400 and in Kansas call (866) 511-5368.

Oklahomans are discouraged from self-deploying to assist with hurricane response, recovery efforts in Texas. In most cases, access to the affected areas, requires proper credentials and travel documents. As Oklahoma receives requests for personnel, equipment and supplies, OEM will look to local county and municipal emergency managers to identify the needed resources. OEM will work through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an interstate mutual aid agreement, to deploy resources to the affected areas.

Monetary donations are best. A number of the disaster relief agencies Oklahoma always depends on in disaster times are already working to assist those affected by Ike. At the same time those same agencies continue to help those impacted by Hurricane Gustav. Oklahomans are urged to give to the disaster relief agency of their choice, to include the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and other faith-based organizations. Go to www.okvoad.org for a list of disaster relief organizations.

###