Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 3

May 24, 2011 – 11:45 p.m.

The State Emergency Operations Center has returned to normal operations. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) remains in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas and continues to coordinate the delivery of any needed resources with the Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, National Weather Service, American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

A State of Emergency remains in effect for 14 Oklahoma counties as declared by Gov. Mary Fallin earlier today for tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding that began Sunday. The counties included in the executive order are Adair, Blaine, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Kiowa, Mayes, Muskogee, Nowata, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Rogers and Wagoner. The declaration can be amended to add additional counties as necessary. Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions. The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

4 fatalities are attributed to the storm, according to the Oklahoma State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The deaths occurred in Canadian County.

71 injuries are attributed to the storm, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Severe thunderstorms are exiting eastern Oklahoma late this evening. Conditions on Wednesday will be much quieter with temperatures in the 70s.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports about 47,160 homes and business are without electric service due to the storm, including the following.

PSO reports 15,485 customers without power including 8,083 in Tulsa, 3,182 in Chouteau and 2,771 in Chickasha.

OG&E reports 21,672 customers (including 17,471 in the Oklahoma City metro area) without service.

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC) reports about 10,000 customers are without power in the following service areas:

Caddo Electric Cooperative, Binger

Central Rural Electric Cooperative, Stillwater

Cimarron Electric Cooperative, Kingfisher

Kiamichi Electric Cooperative, Wilburton

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Norman

People's Electric Cooperative, Ada

Red River Valley REA, Marietta

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative

A total of approximately 720 OAEC distribution system poles and at least 2 or 3 high voltage transmission line structures, along with two heavily damaged substations have been reported.

The American Red Cross is operating the following shelters for those displaced by the storm:

Canton – Canton Community Center – 301 N. Garfield Street

Chickasha – Bible Baptist Church – 226 S. 29th Street

Chickasha  - The Trinity Church - 420 E Alamar 

Guthrie – Noble Avenue Baptist Church – 1219 W. Noble

Newcastle – Newcastle Storm Shelter – 851 N. Carr

Piedmont – First Baptist Church – 15 Jackson Avenue NW

Stillwater – American Red Cross Chapter – 114 W. 18th Street

Shelter services are also available at the Salvation Army in El Reno at 201 S. Bickford.

Additionally, The Salvation Army is deploying mobile feeding units to Chickasha, El Reno, Stillwater, and Woodward County.

The American Red Cross is deploying numerous Disaster Action Teams into several Oklahoma communities.

Chickasha Emergency Management reports about 25 homes destroyed, 50 severely damaged with an unknown number of businesses and 12 minor injuries.

McClain County Emergency Management reports 16 homes destroyed with damage in Dibble, Washington and Goldsby.

Shawnee-Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports 5 structures damaged in McLoud.

City of El Reno reports extensive damage including extensive damage to a Devon Energy production plant, gas/oil production rig and a metal business. Twenty injuries were reported from workers at the rig. Areas north and east of El Reno received heavy damage. Homes located in the Skyline Addition and near Highway 81 and Britton Road were damaged or lost. South of Concho structural damage was reported at Fort Reno west of El Reno. Additional damage to homes and properties was also reported along the Britton Road area, east of El Reno.

Oklahoma Department of Public Safety reports they are securing the perimeter around Canton Lake to prevent looters from entering the area.

Norman Spur at SH 76 southbound will be closed as well as SH58-A around Canton Lake.

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. Please only call 911 for emergencies.

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Next Situation Update: As conditions warrant