Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 3

May 21, 2013 4 p.m.

Due to widespread tornado damage and continuing severe weather conditions across Oklahoma, the State Emergency Operations Center remains activated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with the Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Insurance Department, National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Medical Reserve Corps, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD).

The State has launched a website, okstrong.ok.gov, to provide up-to-date information and resources.

The Oklahoma National Guard has been activated and search and rescue is ongoing in the affected areas. The Guard has 177 members deployed in 34 vehicles throughout the area. The Guard is also assisting with providing drinking water to the area.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 40 troopers maintaining a perimeter around the affected area.

Moore officials report they have enough responders on scene at this time, and ask that additional resources and volunteers please stay away from the affected area unless specifically requested.

Responding agencies and organizations are collaborating to organize resources to feed up to 40,000 people over the coming days.

The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports 24 fatalities related to Monday’s storms.

Two fatalities are attributed to Sunday’s storms.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reports 237 injuries as a result of Monday’s storms. The injuries include 148 individuals who sustained cuts or pierces, 85 individuals who were struck by objects, and four individuals who were struck by vehicles and/or other large objects.

OSDH reports that Moore Hospital was damaged by the tornado. Thirteen patients are being transported to area hospitals.

Due to low water pressure, Oklahoma Heart Hospital South is relocating 14 patients.

Northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 35 through Moore have been reopened. However, the public is encouraged to avoid the area if at all possible. All I-35 off-ramps in the Moore area remain closed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting OEM in the process of assessing damage to structures. The assessment is ongoing due to the wide scope of damage sustained in the affected area.

President Barack Obama has issued a major disaster declaration for Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties. The declaration makes individual assistance available to tornado survivors in those counties.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in those counties are encouraged to register with FEMA for potential recovery assistance. Survivors can register online, via smartphone at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.The same counties were also approved for public assistance to include debris removal, emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance.

Wireless telecommunications providers are taking steps to boost wireless communications capabilities in the area.

The power is back on at the Draper Water Treatment Plant. Residents and businesses will soon see the water pressure return to normal.

As water quality crews bring the water system, they will flush the pipelines and monitor the water quality.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has no reason to believe the water in the pipeline is unsafe to drink. However, those who completely lost water service or whose homes sustained structural damage are encouraged to voluntarily boil water before consumption as a voluntary precautionary measure.

As a result of low water pressure, nonessential personnel at several state office buildings in the state Capitol complex had to be sent home. The Capitol building remains open at this time.

The American Red Cross has opened the following shelters:

• St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - 2727 SW 119th Street, Oklahoma City, OK
• Newcastle Storm Shelter - 851 N. Carr, Newcastle, OK
• Moore Community Center - 201 S. Howard, Moore, OK

The American Red Cross encourages the use of their website, www.safeandwell.org, which is designed to help family and friends reunite.

Additionally, the following American Red Cross shelters from Sunday remain open:

• Carney Senior Center - 301 Maple Avenue, Carney, OK
• Shawnee High School Athletic Center - 1001 N. Kennedy, Shawnee, OK
• Little Axe Resource Center - 1970 156 Ave NE, Norman, OK

OU Housing & Food Services is open for those displaced by the tornadoes. For more information, please call 405-325-2511.

Feed The Children will be accepting donations of diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks, and cash donations at the following locations:

1. McCormick Warehouse at 29 N. McCormick in Oklahoma City from 8:30 am – 4:30 p.m.
2. 1st Baptist Church downtown OKC 1201 N. Robinson
3. KOCO 1300 West Britton Road, OKC, OK
4. Faith Tabernacle Church – I-40 and Portland
5. TLC Garden Center 105 West memorial in OKC

The Salvation Army has five canteens deployed to the Moore area, with two more en route. There are two canteens in Shawnee. The Salvation Army is coordinating with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief for meal preparation for the Salvation Army and American Red Cross to then distribute.

In addition, the Joplin chapter of AmeriCorps is en route to assist in response efforts.

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports more than 34,000 outages related to the storm.

PSO

Total - 815
Chickasha - 535
Atoka - 52
McAlester - 81
Wilburton - 39
Okemah - 8
Tulsa SW - 63
Tulsa SE - 28
Tulsa NW - 5
Tulsa NE - 3
Bartlesville - 1

OG&E

Total - 27,903 (includes Arkansas)
Ardmore - 3,227
Bokoshe - 71
Cameron - 175
Davis - 58
Durant - 405
Heavener - 435
Kellyville - 1,482
Lone Grove - 125
Moore - 14,005
Norman - 263
OKC North - 529
OKC South - 1,199
Poteau - 101
Ringling - 113
Tishomingo - 960
Vian - 124
Wellston - 103
Yukon - 300
OKC METRO TOTAL - 16,399

Caddo Electric

Total – 205
Cement and Cyril areas

Canadian Valley Electric

Total - 1,304
Shawnee, McLoud - 1,120

Central Rural Electric

Total - 1,145
Lincoln County - 1,003
Logan County - 12
Oklahoma County - 6
Payne County - 7

Indian Electric Cooperative

Total - 344
Pawnee area - 147
Morrison area - 144
Glencoe area - 25

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

Total - 336
Ottawa County
Fairland, Wyandotte, Seneca

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

Total - 2,134
Most in Moore, SE OKC

Ozarks Electric

Total - 150
Cherokee County

People’s Electric

236
Hughes, Pontotoc Counties

Stray animals are being taken to the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter at SE 29th and Bryant to be reunified with their owners. Further animal reunification efforts are underway.

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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