Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 5

May 11, 2015 - 4:30 p.m.

Due to the continued effects of severe weather across the state, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) remains activated. OEM is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with numerous agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma National Guard, National Weather Service, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Office of Geographic Information, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and Civil Air Patrol.

Governor Mary Fallin declared a State of Emergency Thursday for 12 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that began Wednesday. The counties included in the declaration are: Alfalfa, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Dewey, Garfield, Grady, Grant, Major, McClain and Oklahoma. Additional counties may be added.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports one fatality attributed to the storms. A 43-year-old female in Oklahoma City was found dead in her cellar on Thursday.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports 40 storm-related injuries have been treated by Oklahoma hospitals since last Wednesday.

Two Multi-Agency Resource Centers are now open at the following locations:

• Bridge Creek Upper Elementary School, 2209 E Sooner Rd in Blanchard
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2440 SW 55th St in Oklahoma City

The Resource Centers will be open through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

American Red Cross reports a shelter remains open at Santa María Virgen Episcopal Church at 5500 S. Western Avenue in Oklahoma City. About 45 people stayed at the shelter overnight.

The Salvation Army reports two mobile feeding units (canteen) are on site in Bridge Creek. One canteen is stationed at Bridge Creek School and one is mobile. In Oklahoma City, the Salvation Army is delivering food boxes today to those impacted by Wednesday’s tornadoes.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief has chainsaw teams assisting in Bridge Creek. Storm victims may request assistance by calling (405) 443-7583 or visiting www.okdisasterhelp.org.

Atoka County Emergency Management reports creeks and streams have overflowed and flooded homes in and east of Stringtown.

Coal County Emergency Management reports a water line busted due to flooding, but is located under flood waters and is not accessible for repair until the water recedes. At least 40 percent of county roads are impassible due to flooding. Damage assessments are ongoing.

Latimer County Emergency Management reports tornado or wind damage to trees, power lines and some buildings in addition to flooded roads and highways. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is providing a pump to assist with flooding at Bandy Creek in Wilburton.

Additional flooding has been reported by emergency managers in Atoka, Cleveland, Hughes, Le Flore, Marshall, McIntosh, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Sequoyah, and Wagoner counties.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highways are affected by high water. Drivers are cautioned to heed all warning signs and not to drive around barricades or into water on roadways.

• Atoka County - SH-131 is closed just west of the US-69 junction, near Wardville.
• Bryan County - SH-48 is closed one mile north of the SH-78 junction, north of Durant; SH-70E is closed six miles south of the US-70 junction, south of Bennington.
• Carter County - SH-77S is closed one mile south of the US-70 junction (near the west entrance to Lake Murray State Park.)
• Cherokee County - SH-80 is closed about 4 miles west of Hulbert between SH-51 and US-62 due to high water.
• Johnston County - US-377/SH-99 is closed to through traffic just south of Tishomingo. Traffic is detoured on SH-1/SH-22 through Ravia and US-177/SH-199.
• Kiowa County - SH-54 is closed to through traffic between SH-9 and SH-19, south of Gotebo.
• Marshall County - SH-199 is closed about 5 miles west of the SH-78 junction, near Little City.  
• Okfuskee County - SH-48 is closed 1 mile south of I-40 between the North Canadian River Bridge and I-40; SH-56 is now OPEN 2 miles north of the US-62 junction near Okemah.
• Pittsburg County - SH-31 is closed 3 miles west of the US-270 junction near McAlester; SH-63 is closed just west of the US-270 junction near Haileyville; US-270/SH-1 is now OPEN just west of the Indian Nation Turnpike near McAlester.
• Pottawatomie County - SH-102 will be closed between I-40 and SH-9 to make repairs after flood damage. The recommended detour is SH-9 to Tecumseh to US-177 or I-40 to US-177.

Know before you go by checking current road conditions in Oklahoma. Call the Department of Public Safety's Road Conditions Hotline at 888-425-2385 or go to www.dps.state.ok.us. For turnpike information, call the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at 877-403-7623 or go to www.pikepass.com.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports 476 power outages statewide.

OG&E - Total: 263

Durant – 151

Oklahoma City – 62

Panama – 50

PSO - Total: 61

Largest outage areas:

Tulsa Southeast (includes Bixby, Broken Arrow) – 38

Tulsa Northeast – 12

Scattered outages in Atoka, Okmulgee, Wilburton areas

Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative - Total: 21

Most in Shawnee, Tecumseh areas

Indian Electric - Total: 9

Mannford area

People’s Electric Cooperative - Total: 122

Most along Highway 75, east of Ada

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering free bacterial testing of private well water for those affected by the recent storms. The free testing will be available until June 15, 2015. Well owners may call 1-800-522-0206 for more information on eligibility for free testing as well as sampling instructions and supplies. Additional information is available at http://www.deq.state.ok.us/tornado/index.html.

Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) offers the following tips:

When disaster strikes, the best way to support survivors of emergencies or disasters in Oklahoma remains donating financial contributions to reputable voluntary organizations. Cash donations allow nonprofit organizations to purchase what disaster survivors need. Buying supplies locally helps the economy recover by helping local businesses pay salaries and by keeping tax revenues in the community, generating funds that can be used to repair and strengthen public infrastructure and services.

Donations of used clothing and miscellaneous household items must be sorted, warehoused, transported and distributed, which diverts resources from agencies that are coordinating distribution of identified needs.

Regarding in-kind donations, always confirm what is needed before taking action. If you must donate in-kind goods, make certain that they are specifically requested and needed by recognized organizations. Remember that unsolicited donated goods require responding organizations to redirect valuable resources away from providing services.

Offer an in-kind donation to an Oklahoma VOAD partner.

The American Red Cross Emergency App provides weather alerts and preparedness information in English and in Spanish. The app is available for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Search “Red Cross Emergency” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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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