Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 12

May 24, 2015 - 6:30 p.m.

Due to ongoing severe weather and flooding, 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 requested a federal disaster declaration Tuesday for Cleveland, Grady and Oklahoma counties as a result of tornadoes, severe storms and straight-line winds that have occurred since May 5 as well as continued flooding. If approved, those who suffered storm-related damage may be eligible for assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.

State of Emergency remains in effect for 44 counties. The counties 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. Additional counties may be added.

Additional light to moderate rain is expected across the state tonight into Monday. Widespread saturated ground will result in rapid runoff causing additional flash flooding. Rivers and lakes continue to rise across the state with several lakes in flood status. Lake Eufaula is releasing 170,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) water from the dam as of Sunday afternoon, a rare occurrence. Water is flowing over the uncontrolled spillway at Lake Texoma with 45,000 cfs being released from the dam. Grand Lake is releasing 18,250 cfs, although the lake level is barely in the flood control pool.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely across the state the next five days. Any additional rainfall will create flash flood conditions due to the ongoing saturated ground.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports two people have died as a result of storms beginning Saturday. A 44-year-old male firefighter died in Claremore while trying to perform a water rescue. A 33-year-old female died in a traffic collision in Tulsa. No injuries have been reported from these latest storms.

Five fatalities are attributed to storms earlier this month:

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.

A 56-year-old male died in Cole as a result of storms beginning on May 19.

A 34-year-old male was found dead in Hugo on May 22.

Oklahoma State Department of Health reports a total of 49 injuries have been reported from previous storms this month.

The American Red Cross has opened shelters at the following locations:

• Messiah Lutheran Church, 3600 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4401 E Maguire Road in Noble
• Edison Prep School, 2906 E 41st Street in Tulsa
• First United Methodist Church, 1401 E Taft Avenue in Sapulpa
• Comanche County Fairgrounds, 920 SW Sheridan Road in Lawton
• First Baptist Church, 1340 S 13th Street in Kingfisher

Red Cross is also supporting a shelter at Circle the Wagons Ministry at 604 E Broadway in Lexington.

Absentee Shawnee Tribe Emergency Management reports three housing additions were affected by high water near S 45th Street in Shawnee.

Bryan County/Durant Emergency Management reports Lake Texoma is now going over the emergency spillway. Eagle Lake in north Durant is also going over the emergency spillway. Lake Durant is rising rapidly and is nearing the spillway.

Comanche County Emergency Management reports approximately 20 people were rescued from the roofs and attics of their homes in Meers due to high water. In Cache, Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted with water rescues. Many roads are closed across the county.

Creek County Emergency Management reports 50-100 people were evacuated from their homes earlier today due to flooding. Multiple roads are washed out.

Kingfisher Emergency Management reports the City of Kingfisher flooded this morning. Cimarron River is ready to crest at Dover.

McClain County Emergency Management reports a number of bridges out.

Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports numerous water rescues were performed overnight in Pink.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highways are affected by high water. Do NOT drive into high water. Turn around if possible. Drivers are cautioned to heed all warning signs and not to drive around barricades.

• Atoka County - SH-131 is closed near Wardville.
• Bryan County - US-70 eastbound is closed eight miles south of Bennington; SH-48 is closed four miles north of Durant.
• Cherokee County - SH-80 is closed about four miles west of Hulbert between SH-51 and US-62.
• Choctaw County - SH-70 is closed east of Boswell at the Muddy Boggy River.
• Comanche County - SH-7 is closed east and west of I-44 in Lawton; US-62 is closed at Indiahoma Rd; US-62 and SH-277 is closed near Porter Hill; I-44 is closed at the 43 mm just north of Lawton.
• Grant County - SH-11 is closed between US-81 in Medford to SH-132.
• Jefferson County - SH-32 is closed near Ryan, detour using US-81 or SH-89 to US-70.
• 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. SH-48A is narrowed to one lane and flagging crews are in place.
• Kay County - US-177 is closed north of Blackwell at the Chikaskia River Bridge; US-77 is closed south of Tonkawa at the Salt Fork Bridge.
• Kingfisher County - SH-33 is closed three miles west of SH-74F. US-81 is closed north of Kingfisher.
• Kiowa County - SH-54 is closed to through traffic just south of SH-9 near Gotebo; Traffic is detoured using SH-19 to US-183 to SH-55. This closure is expected to last into next week. US-183 is closed north of Snyder SH-9 is closed just east of Mountain View
• Leflore County - US-270 is closed just south of the junction with US-271 between Wister and Heavener due to flooding at Wister Lake. Signs are in place and traffic will be detoured to Poteau and Heavener. SH-1 is closed between US-271 and US-259.
• McClain County - US-77 is closed at Walnut Creek in Purcell; SH-39 is closed at I-35 in Purcell
• Marshall County - SH-199 is closed at the Ft. Washita bridge
• Okfuskee County - SH-48 is closed south of the I-40 junction Nowata County; SH-10 is closed east of US-169
• Pittsburg County - SH-31 is closed from 270 jct to Haywood and to SH-31A; SH-63 is closed from Haileyville to Kiowa; US-270 is closed from west of the Indian Nation Turnpike to Arpealer; US-69B is closed from McAlester north to SH-113.
• Pottawatomie County - SH-102 is closed between I-40 and Tribbey.
• Pushmataha County - US-271 is closed south of Clayton, detour available on SH-2 from Antlers to Clayton; SH-3 is closed between Antlers and Rattan at the Kiamichi River.
• Tulsa County - SH-20 is closed between SH-11 and Harvard Ave; SH-11 is closed between 76th St. N. and 86th St. N.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports 1,665 power outages statewide.

OG&E - Total: 583

Eufaula – 292
Wewoka – 202
Oklahoma City – 89

PSO - Total: 476

Largest outages:
Elk City – 265
Henryetta – 144
Atoka – 41
Bartlesville – 21

Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative - Total: 128

Most in Pink area

Central Rural Electric Cooperative - Total: 228

Meridian area

Cimarron Electric Cooperative - Total: 46

Areas: Kingfisher, Okarche, Crescent, Okeene, Loyal, Calumet, Waukomis

Cotton County Electric Cooperative - Total: 23

Largest outage area: Comanche County, North of Fort Sill

Lake Region Electric Cooperative - Total: 19

Largest outage area: Oaks

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative - Total: 68

Outage areas: Colcord, Wyandotte, Picher

Northwestern Electric Cooperative - Total: 26

Shattuck area

Peoples Electric Cooperative - Total: 10

Calvin, Tishomingo areas

Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative - Total: 58

Largest outage areas: Claremore, Bartlesville

As storms with elevated levels of rainfall continue to be a threat to the state, the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s (OSDH) Emergency Preparedness and Response Service reminds residents that flooding can cause fatalities and serious injuries for people who are trapped or swept away by wading in, or driving through floodwaters. Flood damage can also lead to a number of public health issues. OSDH recommends the following tips:

• Listen for news reports to learn whether a community’s water supply is safe to drink.
• Have wells checked for contamination from bacteria and chemicals.
• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage, bacteria and chemicals. Professional services and/or guidance may be necessary before attempting to repair flood-damaged property.
• Throw out any food, including canned items, that was not maintained at a proper temperature or has been exposed to floodwaters. Do not eat food from a flooded garden.
• Remove and replace any drywall or other paneling which has been underwater. Mold growth in hidden places is a significant health hazard.

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.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt said Oklahoma’s Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect for Oklahoma counties included in the Governor’s State of Emergency. Oklahoma’s price gouging statute prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent in the price of most goods and services during a state of emergency and for 30 days thereafter, the attorney general said. The act additionally is in effect for another 180 days for prices to repairs, remodeling and construction. Oklahomans who suspect fraud related to storm-damage cleanup or repairs, or who experience price gouging, should contact the Attorney General’s Public Protection Unit at (405) 521-2029 or (918) 581-2885.

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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