Situation Update

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
Situation Update 8
December 31, 2015 3:45 p.m.

Due to the hazardous weather conditions, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will remain activated through the holiday weekend for extended hours for key personnel. OEM is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with numerous agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, National Weather Service, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and Civil Air Patrol.

The State of Emergency declared by Gov. Mary Fallin on November 29 has been extended for an additional 30 days for all 77 counties.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports six people have died as a result of severe weather that began Saturday.

Female, 38 years old, Oklahoma City
Female, 66 years old, Yukon
Male, age not identified, Kay County
Male, 36 years old, Pittsburg County
Female, 54 years old, Bixby
Male, 66 years old, Hinton

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports 104 storm-related injuries have been treated by Oklahoma hospitals.

Falls: 58
Transportation related: 30
Carbon monoxide poisoning: 9
Cut/Pierce: 3
Other: 4

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports 955 weather-related collisions, including 137 injury collisions. Additionally, OHP provided 39 motorist assists, to include water rescues.

American Red Cross reports five shelters are open:

• Camp Christian, 275 Camp Christian Lane, Chouteau
• National Guard Armory, 1900 E. Flagstone, Highway 5, Frederick
• Church of Christ, 913 W. Will Rogers, Kingfisher
• Mountain View Pentecostal Holiness Church, 620 Randlett Street, Mountain View
• First Baptist Church, 729 East Street, Snyder

Forty-three people stayed at shelters Wednesday night.

The following warming stations are operated or supported by American Red Cross

• El Reno YMCA, 2200 Babcock, El Reno
• First United Methodist Church, 300 W. Delaware Street, Tahlequah

At least 50 people visited warming stations Wednesday.

American Red Cross reports they have assisted 75 families from 11 eastern Oklahoma Counties.

The Salvation Army is providing meals to guests at the Hollis shelter and is providing flood clean-up kits to jurisdictions as requested. Additional feeding units are on standby to assist.

Twenty-eight industrial size generators provided by Oklahoma National Guard or FEMA have been deployed to assist local cities and counties to provide power to warming stations, shelters and water facilities. Additional generators are being deployed today in Western Oklahoma.

Five Oklahoma National Guard water buffaloes and other large water trailers have been delivered to local jurisdictions.

Civil Air Patrol is doing flyovers to provide aerial photographs of the impacted areas to help with damage assessments.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality reports the following locations remain under a precautionary boil order* due to a loss of water pressure:

• Blue Quail Estates Public Water Supply (Canadian County)
• Geary
• Greenfield
• Harmon County Rural Water District
• Hydro
• Roosevelt

*These are precautionary boil orders, not mandatory boil orders. As a precaution, it is advised that consumers in the areas listed above bring the water to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute before consumption, drinking, food preparation, baby formula preparation, dish washing, tooth brushing, ice making, wound care, and bathing infants who may ingest bath water. Alternatively, bottled water or another acceptable water source may be used.

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 Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports approximately 26,623 power outages statewide.

Municipal Electric Utilities – Total: 2,278

Frederick: 1,900
Manitou: 93
Olustee: 295

PSO – Total: 2,103

Largest outage areas:  
Tuttle, Cyril – 138
Thomas, Hinton – 70
Snyder, Davidson, Elmer – 244                                   
Dill City, Mountain View, Hobart – 1,509

OG&E – Total: 8,231

Largest outage areas:
OKC – 1,390
El Reno - 1,146
Yukon – 815
Okarche – 678
Hennessey – 615
Garber - 614

Electric Cooperative Outages:

Alfalfa Electric Cooperative - Total: 280
Caddo Electric Cooperative - Total: 5,109
Cimarron Electric Cooperative - Total: 6,722
Kay Electric Cooperative - Total: 787
Indian Electric Cooperative – Total: 152
Oklahoma Electric Cooperative - Total: 824

Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports conditions remain slick and hazardous in the Panhandle as crews treat a thin layer of ice that developed early this morning in Cimarron and Texas counties. Motorists are advised to use caution and plan ahead for additional time to arrive at their destination.

Numerous road closures continue across eastern Oklahoma due to flooding. These conditions have been changing rapidly and some closures may continue through the week while water recedes. Drivers are urged to avoid standing water on roadways and to check for closures before traveling. ODOT recommends drivers check their new interactive highway conditions map at www.okroads.org or call 1-844-4OKHWYS (844-465-4997) to “Know B4 U Go.”

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.

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.

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