OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

January 26, 2010 – 4:30 p.m.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) are working with numerous emergency response partners to take steps in advance of the approaching winter storm’s threatened power outages and travel problems.

OEM is working with FEMA to preposition industrial size generators in McAlester and Oklahoma City. The generators will be used in the event of power outages requiring shelters and to provide power to water treatment facilities in the event of electric service disruptions. The FEMA generators will augment the industrial size generators OEM already has positioned around the state. Additionally, resources for shelter operations including bottled water are being pre-positioned in Oklahoma City and McAlester.

OEM continues to receive updates from the National Weather Service and stands ready to assist the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other disaster relief agencies in opening shelters and mass feeding sites if necessary.

Oklahomans are urged to take the steps now to prepare for the storm’s anticipated arrival on Thursday. Make sure to restock disaster supplies like non-perishable food, bottled water, and flashlights with new batteries. Also remember to replace batteries in NOAA weather radios. This will ensure continued weather updates directly from the National Weather Service.

Once the storm arrives, please heed the recommendation of public safety and transportation officials regarding travel conditions.

Stay tuned to local media and National Weather Service stations for updates as forecasts can change as the winter storm approaches.

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