October 28, 2020 Situation Update 2

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Situation Update 2

October 28, 2020 4:30 p.m.

Due to the hazardous weather conditions, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated. A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Oklahoma panhandle, while part of northwest Oklahoma is under an ice storm warning and numerous counties in northwest and northeast Oklahoma are under a flood watch. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Insurance Department, National Weather Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, American Red Cross and other Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Emergency Managers in central, northwest, north central, and southwest Oklahoma report downed power lines and trees as well as widespread power outages. Many roadways are blocked due to downed power lines or large limbs.

Officials ask residents not to call 9-1-1 for downed power lines or limbs unless there is a fire. Contact your electric provider to report downed power lines.

A State of Emergency remains in effect 47 Oklahoma counties: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Creek, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Jefferson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, McClain, Noble, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Seminole, Stephens, Texas, Tillman, Tulsa, Washington, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

The Executive Order temporarily suspends requirements for size and weights permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies used for emergency relief and power restoration.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 12 injuries have been reported by area hospitals:

• 1 Cut or pierced
• 6 Fall
• 2 Poisoning (carbon monoxide)
• 3 Transportation Related

One locally managed overnight shelter is open:

• Ebenezer Baptist Church, 3600 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City

One American Red Cross supported overnight shelter is open:

• El Reno Citizens Center, 401 S. Grand, El Reno

Two locally managed warming centers are open:

• Church of God, 304 Lake View Drive, Guthrie
• Hominy Public Library, 121 W Main St, Hominy

Three American Red Cross supported warming centers are open:

• Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma City
• Blackwell First Baptist Church, 23 S 1^st Street, Blackwell
• Geary Community Center, 129 NW 5^th St, Geary

Additional shelters or warming stations may open this evening.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief chainsaw teams are helping remove tree limbs from entrance points and roofs in Caddo, Canadian, and Grady counties. Request assistance at www.okdisasterhelp.org.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports approximately 388,794 outages statewide.

 

OG&E Total: 262,219 

Oklahoma City: 157,189 
Norman: 12,966 
El Reno: 8,824 
Midwest City: 7,972 
Yukon: 7,419 
Mustang: 7,210 
Guthrie: 6,592 
Enid: 5,390 
Shawnee: 4,405 
Harrah: 3,776 
Edmond: 3,579 
Piedmont: 3,356 
Del City: 3,218 
Chandler: 3,054 
Bethany: 3,008 
Moore: 2,513 
Choctaw: 1,863 
Village: 1,499 
Noble: 1,465 
Mcloud: 1,430 
Warr Acres: 1,388 
Southard: 1,006 
Crescent: 969 
Covington: 765 
Spencer: 746 
Perkins: 705 
Davenport: 690 
Jones: 673 
Billings: 661 
Hennessey: 585 
Depew: 512 
Nichols Hills: 509 
Nicoma Park: 490 
Watonga: 454 
Cashion: 443 
Okarche: 374 
Drumright: 342 
Forest Park: 274 
Dover: 254 
Ripley: 245 
Morrison: 242 
Breckenridge: 208 
Bethel Acres: 203 
Glencoe: 202 
Bristow: 195 
Meeker: 169 
Lucien: 166 
Lahoma: 151 
Drummond: 141 
Hillsdale: 132 
Calumet: 125 
Wayne: 120 
Valley Brook: 113 
Jennings: 108 
Red Rock: 100 
Nardin: 93 
Carrier: 92 
Wellston: 90 
Woodlawn Park: 82 
Shattuck: 71 
Dale: 70 
Mutual: 70 
Glenpool: 67 
Cushing: 65 
Quay: 63 
Lamont: 57 
Imo: 54 
Longdale: 54 
Deer Creek: 53 
Maud: 50

PSO Total: 33,535 

Custer: 12,494 
Grady: 11,078 
Caddo: 3,884 
Washita: 2,278 
Comanche: 1,470 
Harmon: 1,186 
Kiowa: 753 
Greer: 116 
McClain: 95 
Blaine: 66 
Tillman: 34 
Beckham: 20
Tulsa: 18 
Jackson: 13 
Roger Mills: 13 
Osage: 12

COOPERATIVES (by county, no ETR’s)

CKenergy Electric Cooperative Total: 22,119

Blaine: 310 
Caddo: 9,261 
Canadian: 5,961 
Comanche: 745 
Custer: 2,551 
Grady: 446 
Kiowa: 879 
Washita: 1,787 
Dewey: 178 
Roger Mills: 1

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Total: 15,397

Caddo: 49 
Canadian: 2,153 
Cleveland: 2,620 
Grady: 4,911 
McClain: 3,919 
Oklahoma: 1,707 
Pottawatomie: 38

Central Electric Cooperative Total: 9,311

Garfield: 36 
Lincoln: 1,950 
Logan: 2,751 
Noble: 924 
Oklahoma: 1,275 
Pawnee: 60 
Payne: 2,315 

Cimarron Electric Cooperative Total: 8,204

Blaine: 1,649 
Canadian: 2,502 
Custer: 106 
Dewey: 216 
Garfield: 46 
Kingfisher: 1,403 
Logan: 2,169 
Major: 3 
Oklahoma: 110 

Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 6,029

Hughes: 1 
Lincoln: 1,889 
Okfuskee: 9 
Oklahoma: 373 
Pottawatomie: 3,704 
Seminole: 53 

Southwest Rural Electric Association, Inc. Total: 2,441 

Comanche: 3 
Greer: 37 
Jackson: 1,527 
Kiowa: 388 
Tillman: 486 

Indian Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 4,004

Creek: 487 
Kay: 12 
Noble: 280 
Osage: 616 
Pawnee: 1,980 
Payne: 628 
Tulsa: 1 

Northfork Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 1,920

Beckham: 671 
Custer: 58 
Dewey: 6 
Greer: 1 
Roger Mills: 992 
Washita: 192 

Cotton Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 1,852

Caddo: 8 
Comanche: 699 
Cotton: 16 
Grady: 502 
Stephens: 627 

Northwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 1,766

Beaver: 2 
Dewey: 265 
Ellis: 513 
Harper: 10 
Woodward: 976 

Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 1,117

Garvin: 19 
Grady: 801 
McClain: 269 
Stephens: 28

Kay Electric Cooperative Total: 700

Garfield: 57 
Grant: 4 
Kay: 492 
Noble: 126 
Osage: 21 

Alfalfa Electric Cooperative, Inc. Total: 68

Major: 66 
Woods: 2 

Choctaw Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

McCurtain: 10 

MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES 

Blackwell: 2500 
Tonkawa: 1200 
Frederick: 500 
Edmond: 1700 
Orlando: 100
Geary: 1100
Tecumseh: 1121 
Ponca: 5000 
Yale: 665
Kingfisher: 250 
Hominy: 650 
Perry: 1000 
Watonga: 700 
Waynoka: 100 
Newkirk: 670 
Pawhuska: 50 
Mooreland: 796

While highway and interstate conditions steadily continue to improve in central and northwestern Oklahoma, evening commuters and travelers are reminded to check conditions and forecasts before heading out as conditions still can change rapidly while temperatures remain low. Plan extra time for travel when possible.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation crews will continue operations to treat roadways with salt and sand until this weather event fully clears the state. Crews continue to monitor conditions in the Panhandle where highways remain wet, and remaining slick spots in Woodward and Ellis counties in northwestern Oklahoma. In Dewey County, SH-47 remains wet with some isolated slick spots but is improving. Be alert to crews and equipment working in these areas. 

In areas where ice accumulated from this winter storm, drivers should be alert to tree debris, falling ice and also downed power lines across highways. Crews continue to work with emergency responders to monitor and clear roadways as needed. Several highways in Caddo, Canadian, Comanche and Grady counties are closed due to downed power lines, and drivers are reminded to never drive over fallen lines. View www.okroads.org for a map of current closures.

Highways and interstates in central Oklahoma have improved conditions, and crews are monitoring for any refreezing issues.

During winter weather events, drivers should closely follow the forecast and check current road conditions on the interactive travel map at www.okroads.org or through the Drive Oklahoma smart phone app.

 REMEMBER during snowy and icy conditions, motorists are asked to:

• Stay about 200 feet behind road clearing equipment; crews need room to maneuver and can engage plowing or spreading materials without notice. 
• Allow extra space between vehicles to provide adequate distance for braking.
• Be aware of "black ice," which looks wet on the roadway but is a thin layer of ice.
• Be patient, plan trips ahead and allow extra time in reaching destinations.

To check CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS in Oklahoma, call ODOT's ROAD CONDITIONS HOTLINE at 844-4OK-HWYS (844-465-4997) or go to www.okroads.org or follow ODOT on Twitter @OKDOT. For turnpike information, call the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at 877-403-7623 or go to www.pikepass.com.

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking residents impacted by the recent storms to report physical damages to their homes or businesses at damage.ok.gov. 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.

If power is out for less than two hours, then food in your refrigerator and freezer is safe to consume. If the power is out longer, then note that a half-full freezer will hold food safely for about 24 hours; a full freezer will hold food safely about 48 hours. Do not taste food to determine if it "tastes safe." Discard any perishable food that has been above 40 degrees for more than two hours. It is not a good idea to put food from the refrigerator and freezer outside. The outside temperature can vary hour by hour, and frozen food can thaw if exposed to the sun's rays, even if it is very cold. Take advantage of the cold temperatures by making ice. Fill buckets, empty milk cartons or cans with water and place them outside to freeze. Then put the homemade ice in your refrigerator, freezer or coolers. Food may be safely refrozen when power is returned if the food still has ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below. You may have to evaluate each food item separately.

For more information on how to recover from a power emergency, visit this Web site: https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/response/what-to-do-protect-yourself-during-a-power-outage.html

As Oklahomans begin to deal with the thousands of trees downed by the ice, many will be using chain saws to cut and remove limbs from trees, and not everyone will be experienced in handling chain saws safely. Be sure to choose the proper size of chain saw to match the job. Check to make certain the saw has safety features such as a brake, front and rear hand guards, stop switch, chain catcher and spark arrester. Don't forget to wear appropriate protective equipment, including a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protectors, heavy work boots, and cut-resistant leg wear (chain saw chaps).

Cut at waist level or below to ensure you maintain secure control over the chain saw and take extra care in cutting trees or branches that are bent, twisted, hung up or caught. If the tree or branch is suddenly released, it may strike the person cutting them or a bystander. Most importantly, be sure to avoid contact with power lines. Finally, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reminds everyone to check daily on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who live alone.

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 9-1-1 for emergencies.

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