Situation Update 6

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

Situation Update 6

May 8, 2019 – 7 p.m.

As a result of ongoing severe weather response and recovery efforts, the State Emergency Operations Center remains activated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, National Weather Service, Oklahoma American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief and the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Governor Kevin Stitt today amended the State of Emergency to include 14 additional counties impacted by the latest round of severe weather that began April 30. Under the Executive Order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions. The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

The 66 counties now included in the declaration are: Adair, Alfalfa*, Atoka, Beckham*, Bryan,Caddo*, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek,Custer*, Delaware, Dewey*, Garvin, Grady, Greer*, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson*, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay*, Kingfisher*, Kiowa*, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Noble*, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Roger Mills*, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, Washita*, and Woods*.

*New counties added to the declaration.

A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will open in Pittsburg and Bryan counties. A MARC is a central location for local and state agencies, as well as voluntary organizations, to answer questions and provide information and disaster-related assistance. Anyone affected by the recent storms is urged to come and check on available services and relief information.

The MARCs will be open in the following locations*

Friday, May 10, Noon - 7 p.m.

Pittsburg County Civic Center (County Barn)

200 Craig Ave., Haleyville, OK 74546

Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Rock Creek Elementary

23072 US Highway 70, Durant, OK 74701

*Please bring proof of address.

In Atoka County, residents impacted by last week’s storms can call the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management at (405) 496-9329 to ask about resources that may be available in their area.

Alfalfa County Emergency Management reports significant flooding has led to numerous road closures and at least one high water rescue. Burlington Schools were closed today. A shelter is open at the senior citizen center on Main Street.

Beckham County Emergency Management reports eight water rescues occurred and two bridges were damaged. American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Beckham County Activity Center in Sayre.

Blackwell Emergency Management reports significant flooding around Blackwell Lake. Numerous water rescues have occurred. GRDA Emergency Management and Prior Fire Department are assisting with water rescues. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing 500 sandbags.

Canadian County Emergency Management reports numerous washed out roads and additional flood damage has occurred in the county.

Johnston County Emergency Management reports roads continue to deteriorate from the recent round of storms and flooding. 

Kingfisher County Emergency Management several roads under water, but no additional damage was reported.

Kiowa County Emergency Management reports 2-3 homes with roof damage as well as moderate flooding in areas prone to flooding.

Logan County Emergency Management reports tree damage and several county roads flooded.

McCurtain County Emergency Management reports the Red River continues to rise. One home in Wright City has roof damage.

Newkirk Emergency Management reports numerous homes and other buildings were damaged in the storm. Personnel from Osage County and Ponca City are assisting with damage assessments. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is sending a chainsaw team to assist with debris removal. Damage assessments are ongoing.

Washita County Emergency Management moderate flooding with 7-8 county roads temporarily flooded. Power lines and tree damage was also reported.

Woods County Emergency Management reports numerous roads are flooded.

American Red Cross has distributed 562 bulk supply items and 453 snacks since April 30. They have also opened 61 cases with storm-impacted families. They are providing meals in Alfalfa County.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is providing chainsaw teams and debris removal assistance in Kay County.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports 1,950 power outages statewide.

OG&E - TOTAL: 879

Midwest City: 227 
Ada: 150 
Kingston: 138 
Oklahoma City: 136 
Hallett:  81 
Bridgeview: 72 

PSO - TOTAL: 574

Johnston County: 362 
Coal County: 60 
Tulsa County: 28 

Kiamichi Electric Cooperative - TOTAL: 295 

Latimer County: 45
Le Flore County: 6
Pittsburg County: 84
Pushmataha County: 160

Choctaw Electric Cooperative - TOTAL: 167 

Choctaw County: 26
Le Flore County: 132
McCurtain County: 9

Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative - TOTAL: 35 

Haskell County: 34
Muskogee County: 1

Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highways are closed due to flooding as of 4 p.m.:

• Alfalfa County - SH-8 is closed near Cherokee between US-64 and SH-11.
• Cherokee County - SH-80 is closed four miles west of Hulbert near Fort Gibson Lake
• Delaware County - SH-127 is closed near Jay just west of US-59 due to a damaged drainage structure
• Johnston County - SH-48A is closed at the SH-48 junction in Coleman; SH-48A is closed two miles north of Milburn.
• Kay County - Northbound I-35 is now OPEN to the Oklahoma/Kansas state line, however, northbound motorists should expect to be detoured to westbound US-166 (mm 4) in Kansas to northbound US-81 to Wichita until repairs are completed on the Kansas I-35 turnpike; US-77 is closed south of Tonkawa between US-60 and SH-15.
• US-177 is closed north of Blackwell.
• Love County - SH-77-Scenic is closed at Lake Murray Spillway
• Pittsburg County - SH-31 is closed west of McAlester to Haywood Rd.
• Washita County - SH-55 is closed between Sentinel and Retrop;
• Woods County - US-281 north of Alva is closed between SH-11 and the Kansas state line.

To check current road conditions in Oklahoma, visit www.okroads.org.

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to ask residents impacted by the April 30 storms to report damages to their property at damage.ok.gov or by calling (405) 496-9329. Reporting damage helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts. Residents can report damage to homes, businesses or agriculture through the online survey.

When disaster strikes, the best way to support survivors of emergencies or disasters in Oklahoma is with cash donations to reputable voluntary organizations. Cash donations allow relief organizations or survivors to purchase what they need, when and where they need it. Buying supplies locally helps the local community recover by helping local businesses pay salaries and by keeping tax revenues in the community.

Other donated items are not needed or requested by local officials at this time. Do not send unsolicited donations of used clothing, miscellaneous items or perishable foods, which must be sorted, warehoused, transported and distributed. This requires more efforts and staffing to manage those resources and takes away from recovery efforts.

Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced the state’s price gouging statute is in effect for the 66 counties named in the governor’s state of emergency declaration. The Emergency Price Stabilization Act prohibits an increase of more than 10% for the price of goods and services after a declared emergency. The statute triggers automatically after the governor issues a state of emergency. The law allows the attorney general to pursue charges against individuals or businesses that engage in price gouging.

For more information or to report a complaint, individuals can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit by phone at (405) 521-2029, or email at consumerprotection@oag.ok.gov.

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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