Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 5

December 7, 2013, 2:45 p.m.

Due to the latest winter storm impacting Oklahoma, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated at level 3 -- extended hours for key personnel. Agencies and organizations represented at the State EOC during activation have included the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Services: Forestry Services Division, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and other disaster relief agencies.

A State of Emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties remains in place. On Thursday, Governor Mary Fallin issued the declaration due to the winter storm. The Executive Order allows state agencies to make emergency purchases related to disaster relief and preparedness. It is also a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

The American Red Cross is supporting three shelters:

• Choctaw Nation Community Center at 408 N M Street in Hugo. This shelter is operated by the Choctaw Nation.
• First Baptist Church at 800 Clay Street in Soper
• Swink School at 500 Jourdan Street in Swink

Baptist Disaster Relief is operating feeding kitchens for residents in Hugo and Rock Island.

Warming centers are open in the following locations:

• Choctaw Nation Community Center at 400 SW O Street in Antlers
• First Baptist Church of Antlers at 208 NE B Street in Antlers
• Bryan County Health Department at 1524 W Chuckwa in Durant
• Carl Albert State College Thompson Fitness Center at 1507 S McKenna Street in Poteau

The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Baptist Disaster Relief remain on standby to assist with shelters, warming centers and feeding stations in other impacted areas.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports one weather related fatality was confirmed in Muskogee on Thursday.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 198 storm related injuries have been reported by area hospitals including 107 falls.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has responded to 163 non-injury and 53 injury weather-related collisions since 8 a.m. Thursday. They continue to urge motorists to avoid travel in the affected areas.

Oklahoma Forestry Division and Oklahoma National Guard are responding to Pushmataha and Choctaw counties with equipment to move fallen trees out of roadways. Baptist Disaster Relief has also deployed seven chainsaw teams to help with timber debris. This will help allow power restoration teams access to the area to assist with restoring power to homes and businesses.

The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at level 3 -- extended hours for key personnel -- and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is working with local emergency managers across the state as well as numerous emergency response, recovery partners. OEM staff remain in the hardest hit areas of the state, assisting communities with local response, recovery efforts.

The OEM, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma National Guard and Oklahoma Department of Transportation stranded motorist plan concluded Saturday at noon.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports more than 7,600 homes and businesses are without power across the state -- most in southeast Oklahoma.

OG&E Total: 202

Heavener: 80

Pocola: 65

Poteau: 57

PSO: 2,454 Hugo area (includes Hugo, Antlers, Fort Towson, Sawyer)

Choctaw Electric Cooperative:approximately 4,475 (Hugo area) 

Kiamichi: 22 (Most south of Wilberton)

Southeastern Electric Cooperative: approximately 135 (Durant area)

Arkansas Valley Electric Total: Approximately 371 (Pocola, Roland)

Crews from Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative, Cimarron Electric Cooperative, Lake Region Electric Cooperative and Oklahoma Electric Cooperative are assisting in the Mutual Aid restoration effort at Choctaw Electric Cooperative in Hugo and Idabel.

Crews from Cotton Electric Cooperative and East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative have been dispatched today to assist in the restoration effort at Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports around-the-clock road clearance operations continue on highways throughout the state.

Areas in northeastern, southeastern and central Oklahoma remain snow packed and slick. ODOT crews in southern Oklahoma are reporting slick and hazardous roads including I-35 near the Oklahoma/Texas border. Drivers are advised to avoid travel if possible and give road-clearing equipment plenty of room to work.

To check CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS, call the Department of Public Safety's ROAD CONDITIONS HOTLINE at 405-425-2385 or visit http://www.dps.state.ok.us/cgi-bin/weathermap.cgi.

The Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General reports that Oklahoma’s Emergency Price Stabilization Act remains in effect for 77 Oklahoma counties due to the Governor’s State of Emergency. Attorney General Scott Pruitt said Oklahoma’s 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.

For Oklahoma residents seeking non-emergency disaster or health and human service information, please contact 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.

###

Situation Updates are posted at www.oem.ok.gov

Follow us on Twitter @OKEM

Next Situation Update: As conditions warrant