Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 7

May 14, 2015 - 6:45 p.m.

Due to the continued effects of severe weather across the state and risk for additional flooding through the week, 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, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and Civil Air Patrol.

Governor Mary Fallin signed an amendment this week to add 32 counties to the State of Emergency for a total of 44 counties. The counties now included in the Executive Order are: Adair, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Cotton, Creek, Dewey, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Major, McClain, McIntosh, Marshall, McCurtain, Murray, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens and Tillman.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency managers will continue damage assessments on Friday for potential federal disaster assistance in Cleveland, Grady and Oklahoma counties. The teams will work to determine the unmet financial needs of those whose homes and businesses sustained damage.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports three fatalities are now attributed to the storms. A 43-year-old female in Oklahoma City was found dead in her cellar on May 7. An 81-year-old male was found dead near Tupelo in Coal County on May 10. A 60-year-old man was found dead in Le Flore County on May 13.

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 open at the following locations. Residents impacted by the disaster are urged to visit one of the centers to talk to voluntary agencies that may have disaster aid available.

• 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 27 people stayed at the shelter overnight.

Serve Moore has been responding to neighborhoods in southeast Oklahoma City around South 44th Street and I-35. Residents in this area of Oklahoma City can request assistance with debris removal, minor repairs and minor roof tarping through Serve Moore. Those who would like to volunteer with clean up efforts can also sign up on the site. Serve Moore is a collaborative effort of local churches working for renewal in Moore and the surrounding areas.

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. Since Wednesday, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief has received requests from more than 200 homeowners for chain saw or debris needs and has served more than 12,000 meals.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been monitoring river and lake levels and potential flood damage since last week. To date, they have provided 10,000 sandbags to local municipalities and counties in Oklahoma and have moved extra sandbags to Lake Eufaula. An additional 10,000 bags will be provided to Chickasaw Nation. USACE have also provided maps, flyover photos, technical assistance and 24hr monitoring of the lakes with high water levels.

Lake Eufaula is currently the most closely watched project, at 115 percent of the flood control pool. Tulsa District Corps of Engineers has declared an emergency to allow for emergency operations support including flood fight under Public Law 84-99.

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.

###