Situation Update 2
SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTS STATE
May 5, 2022
As a result of severe weather across the state, the State Emergency Operations Center remains activated. 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 Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma State Department of Education, 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, and the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
INJURIES
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 21 storm-related injuries have been reported by area hospitals:
- Cut/Pierce – 5
- Fall – 10
- Transportation related - 6
MASS CARE
The American Red Cross reports the following shelters are now open:
- Kelly Haney Center, Seminole State College, 35390 OK-9, Seminole
- New Beginnings Church, 4104 E 151st Street S, Bixby
Shelters in Muskogee, Henrietta, Okmulgee and Tulsa were opened last night but are now closed. At least 100 people stayed in shelters Wednesday night.
Additionally American Red Cross has a canteen set up in Okmulgee.
The Salvation Army is providing two Rapid Response Trucks to distribute food in Seminole and will be providing food at the Bixby Shelter this evening.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has a kitchen set up at First Baptist Church in Seminole. They have deployed one chainsaw team as well as chaplains and assessors in Seminole and will send muck out teams to Bixby once water recedes.
Minuteman Disaster Response had teams in Seminole overnight assisting with search efforts.
Residents in the City of Seminole can request assistance with debris removal by contacting dmiller.ward1@gmail.com or (405) 584-3355.
SUPPORT TO IMPACTED JURISDICTIONS
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management worked with Pittsburg County Emergency Management, Bryan County Emergency Management, and Choctaw Nation to deliver four state-owned generators to Seminole County to power the water plant and shelter.
ODEMHS also coordinated with Pittsburg County Emergency Management, American Red Cross and others to deliver tarps and water to Seminole County and City of Seminole.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health provided a generator to support a hospital in Seminole County that was without power.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing structural engineers to help with safety assessments of local buildings.
The Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association has coordinated mutual aid support from other Oklahoma counties to assist with perimeter control and security in Seminole.
Choctaw Nation provided support to Seminole County Sheriffs’ Department with a drone mission to assess the damage path.
Muscogee Nation and Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes provided water to Seminole County. Citizen Potawatomi Nation provided water and light towers.
Department of Environmental Quality reports impacts to three public water systems and one public wastewater system.
STORM AND FLOOD DAMAGE REPORTS
Delaware County reports widespread flooding throughout the county, including major flooding south of Jay along Flint and Spavinaw creeks. Numerous roadways are washed out along with damage to low water crossings and bridges.
City of Muskogee Emergency Management reports flooding is ongoing in Muskogee and numerous water rescues have been completed. Two fire trucks were damaged in the floods while conducting water rescues. Neighboring jurisdictions provided mutual aid to support evacuations due to flooding.
Okmulgee County Emergency Management reports numerous water rescues have occurred overnight and today due to high water.
Ottawa County reports Quapaw Marshalls and Quapaw Nation Fire Department/EMS assisted with water rescues today.
Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports 5 homes damaged from last night’s storms along with tree damage, flooding, and road and bridge damage.
City of Seminole and Seminole County Emergency Management report initial damage assessments are ongoing. The National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office announced today that EF2 tornado damage was found in Seminole from last night’s storms. Nearly a mile-wide multiple vortex tornado occurred, ranging from Maude to west of Okemah.
Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency reports Snake Creek is out of its banks near 171st Street and Mingo in Bixby and 30-40 homes were evacuated. Oklahoma Task Force 1 was on scene providing water rescue operations.
Flooding has been reported in numerous other counties.
POWER OUTAGES
Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports approximately 8,400 outages statewide. The majority of outages are in the following counties: Seminole and Nowata.
OCC reports power is now about half restored to Seminole.
ROAD CLOSURES
Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highways are closed due to high water:
CHEROKEE COUNTY
- SH-80 west of Hulbert
- SH-10 about 12.5 miles north of the US-62 Jct. near Hanging Rock in northeast Cherokee County
MAYES COUNTY
- SH-20 closed south of SH-82 jct. at Spavinaw State Park.
MUSKOGEE COUNTY
- US-62 closed just south of US-64/SH-16/SH-72 junction (Jamesville Y) in western Muskogee County
OKFUSKEE COUNTY
- SH-48 is closed just south of I-40 at the N. Canadian River near Bearden.
OKMULGEE COUNTY
- SH-56 about 4 miles west of Okmulgee near Dripping Springs Lake
PITTSBURG COUNTY
- SH-31 is closed between the US-270 Jct. west to Haywood Rd.
TULSA COUNTY
- US-64 closed between Mingo Rd. and Garnett Rd. south of Bixby
For up to the minute info on closures, download the free Drive Oklahoma mobile app or visit www.okroads.org.
DIAL 211
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.
###
