Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 14

May 25, 2015 - 5:30 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 announced today that FEMA has approved the state's request for disaster assistance for three Oklahoma counties hit hard by flooding, tornadoes, severe storms and straight-line winds. The disaster assistance benefits individuals and business owners affected by severe storms on May 5-10 in Cleveland, Grady and Oklahoma counties. The designation makes available federal 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.

To apply for disaster assistance, individuals and business owners in these three counties may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online.

Damage sustained from flooding and severe storms since May 10 is not included in the disaster declaration. However, anyone impacted by these latest storms may report their damage by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). This will help ensure all areas of damage from this latest round of storms are identified and documented and will help bolster the case for a new disaster declaration. When individuals and business owners provide details of severe storm damage to FEMA, that information will be recorded and stored where it will be easily available if a disaster is declared for storms from May 10 and continuing. Damage assessments for these storms are ongoing.

In light of continued storm and flooding damage over the weekend, Governor Fallin today amended an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 44 counties to a statewide emergency declaration. All 77 counties are now in a state of emergency. Under the executive order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports a 48-year-old female died in Bryan County as a result of a tornado on Monday.

Six fatalities are attributed to flooding from May 22 to May 25.

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.

A 37-year-old male died in Sapulpa.

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

A 19-year-old was found dead in Pawnee on May 25

A 91-year-old male died in Tulsa on May 25

Four fatalities are attributed to flooding 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.

This marks a total of 11 storm-related deaths since May 5.

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

The American Red Cross reports shelters are open at the following locations.

• Lawton - Comanche Nation Complex, Cahoma Building, 584 NW Bingo Road
• Lexington - Circle the Wagons Ministry, 604 E Broadway
• Talihina - Hale Scout Reservation, 1 Camp Tom Hale Road
• Poteau - Poteau High School, 100 Pirate Lane

More than 60 people stayed at shelters overnight across the state.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is providing meals in Lawton at First Baptist Church West and in Norman at the Union Baptist Associational Office. They are also offering classes to teach people how to properly clean and remove mold from flooded homes. Classes will be offered May 27-29 in Bixby, Durant, Elk City, Lawton, Norman, and Poteau. For more information, visit www.okdisasterhelp.org.

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.

• Cherokee County- SH-80 is closed approximately four miles west of Hulbert between SH-51 and US-62.
• Bryan County - SH-70E is closed at the Smith and Lee curve, approximately six miles south of Bennington and six miles east of Wade.
• Choctaw County - US-70 is closed at the Muddy Boggy River between Soper and Boswell. SH-109 is closed from the US-271/SH-109 junction west 5 miles. US-271 southbound is closed, northbound is open at the Red River bridge, south of Grant.
• Cotton County - SH-5B is closed at West Cache Creek, between US-70 and SH-5A.
• Grant County - SH-11 is closed between US-81 in Medford and SH-132 .
• Jefferson County- SH-32 is closed near Ryan; Traffic is detoured on 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 east of Filmore. SH-22 is narrowed to one lane east and south of Tishomingo.
• Kay County - US-77 is closed to through traffic at the Salt Fork Bridge south of Tonkawa. SH-156 is closed approximately four miles south of US-60 near Ponca City
• Kingfisher County - SH-33 is closed approximately three miles west of the SH-74F junction near Cashion.
• 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.
• Latimer County - SH-2 is open south Yanush, but some water is over the road and crews are flagging traffic.
• Leflore County- US-270 is closed between Wister and Heavener and US-271 at Wister. Signs are in place and traffic will be detoured to Poteau and Heavener.
• SH-1 is closed between US-271 and US-259.
• Marshall County- SH-199 is closed at the Ft. Washita bridge approximately five miles west of SH-48.
• McClain County- SH-133 is closed between SH-19 and SH-59. Traffic is detoured on US-177.
• McCurtain County - SH-259A is closed in Beaver's Bend State Park
• SH-87 is closed from the Arkansas state line west to US-259.
• Okfuskee County- SH-48 is closed south of I-40.
• Ottawa County - SH-125 is closed at River View Park at the Neosho River near Miami.
• Pittsburg County- SH-63 is closed between Haileyville and Kiowa.
• Pottawatomie County - SH-102 is closed between SH-9 and SH-59B.
• Pushmataha County- US-271 is closed south of Clayton. SH-3 is closed between Antlers and Rattan Landing. SH-43 is closed at Sardis Dam.
• Tulsa County - SH-11 is closed just north of the SH-20 junction. Traffic detoured to use SH-20, US-75, US-60 and SH-123/SH-11 through Washington Co. 

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports 1,492 power outages statewide.

OG&E - Oklahoma Total: 652

Wewoka – 126

OKC – 79

Panama – 87

Poteau – 113

Bokoshe – 247

PSO - Total: 28

Largest outage areas:

Foss City 18  – (ETR 19:00)

Tulsa area: 6 (ETR: 18:30)

Cimarron Electric Cooperative - Total: 37

Most in Crescent, Cimarron city areas

Cotton County Electric Cooperative - Total: 15

Areas: Duncan, Comanche, Loco

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative - Total: 5

Moore area

Red River Valley Electric Cooperative - Total: 10

Ardmore area

Southeastern Electric Cooperative - Total: approx: 100

Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Johnston counties

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering free bacterial testing of private well water due to statewide flooding. The free testing will be available until August 15, 2015. If you would like to test your well, call 1-800-522-0206 for more information as well as sampling instructions and supplies.

If your property was affected by the recent disasters, DEQ recommends that you disinfect your well. Instructions on disinfection are available at http://www.deq.state.ok.us/factsheets/local/dsinfctwtr.pdf. Additional information is available at http://www.deq.state.ok.us/wqdnew/wqprogrms.html. 

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) representatives offer the following tips. Residents and business owners with flood insurance should first call their insurance adjuster to report flood damage and take photos of all damage, including water levels. Property owners should wait to do any repairs until an adjuster is able to visit the structure. Owners may remove sheetrock and clean up mold, mud, and debris after they have taken photos. Owners may also remove carpet, but should save a section of the carpet to show the adjuster. Once repairs begin, save all receipts and payment information.

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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