Severe Weather Situation 3

Friday, April 21 - 5 p.m.

SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUES TO IMPACT STATE

As a result of severe weather that occurred on April 19 and weather-related damages 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 in the affected areas and coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 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 other Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

A State of Emergency is in affect for Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie counties due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and hail that began on April 19. 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. The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

INJURIES AND FATALITIES

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 65 weather-related injuries have been reported statewide by area hospitals.

7 Cut/Pierce
16 Fall
6 Poisoning
15 Struck
13 Transportation-related
1 Burn
7 Other

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirms two fatalities occurred in Cole as a result of the April 19 storms.

The McClain County Sheriff’s Office reports they have verified a third reported fatality was not from McClain County. The person is believed to have sustained fatal injuries from the storm but had been transported from an adjacent county. 

DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS

Teams conducted damage assessments Thursday and Friday in Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie counties. The assessments found approximately 1,950 homes with some level of damage across the three counties including the following:

• Cole (McClain County) – Approximately 65 homes damaged or affected. Of those, roughly 30 have major damage or were destroyed.
• Shawnee (Pottawatomie County) – Approximately 1,800 homes damaged or affected. Of those, roughly 300-350 had major damage or were destroyed.
• Slaughterville area (Cleveland County) – Approximately 100 homes damaged or affected. Of those, roughly 50 had major damage or were destroyed.

These were initial damage assessments so numbers are not exact. Emergency managers continue to collect damage information, so totals may change.

The Southwest Incident Support Team assisted with damage assessments in Cleveland and McClain counties. The team includes emergency managers from Caddo Nation, Grady County, City of Norman, City of Purcell, Tillman County, and Washita County.

DISTRIBUTION SITES TO OPEN IN SHAWNEE

Two supply distribution sites* are open in Shawnee for residents impacted by the storms. Sites will be open over the weekend.

Residents can pick up shelf-stable food, water, baby wipes, pet food, tarps, garbage bags, cleanup kits, hygiene kits, and other miscellaneous items.

The site locations are:

• Life.Church at 5113 N. Harrison, Shawnee 
• Northridge Church of Christ 1001 E. MacArthur, Shawnee

*Donations are not being accepted at these sites.

MASS CARE

Three locally managed shelters remain open today with support from the American Red Cross:

• Washington School, 101 East Kirby Avenue in Washington, OK
• Noble High School, 4601 E. Etowah, Noble, OK
• Shawnee Shelter, 1701 Gordon Cooper Drive, Shawnee, OK

The Shawnee Shelter had one overnight guest Thursday night.

American Red Cross is providing supplies to shelters.

The Salvation Army has one canteen in Cole serving 300 meals for lunch and dinner. Canteens and support vehicles are also serving meals in Shawnee and Bethel Acres.

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma provided a large food donation and Convoy of Hope donated two semi-trucks of food, tarps, and cleanup supplies.

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Shawnee ready to provide debris/tree cleanup and roof tarping. Residents can call (405) 827-2548 for assistance.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief has chainsaw teams in Cole and Shawnee to assist residents. Residents can call (844) 690-9198 for assistance.

Crisis Care Ministries reminds disaster survivors to call the mental health crisis line at 988. Central Oklahoma Mental Health Services, Red Rock, Hope Community Services, and North Care are the mental health services for the impacted counties.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma’s Disaster Hotline is open at (888) 602-8494. Residents impacted by the storms can call or visit www.oklahoamdisaterlegalhelp.org. Legal issues they can help with include landlord/tenant issues, domestic violence issues, issues with contractors, etc. Oklahoma Indian Legal Services is available to support tribal members.

Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps are providing tetanus shots with two mobile strike teams in Pottawatomie County and three mobile strike teams in McClain County.

Oklahoma Insurance Department is available to help with any insurance issues. A unit has been deployed to Shawnee to help with claims. Call (800) 522-0071 or visit www.oid.ok.gov/after for assistance.

POWER OUTAGES

Oklahoma Corporation Commission reports 11,088 outages statewide.

OG&E - Total: 10,693
Areas with >50 outages:
SHAWNEE - 10,318
BETHEL ACRES - 322 

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative - Total: 395
By county, areas with >50 outages:
CLEVELAND - 126
McCLAIN - 265

EMERGENCY PRICE STABILIZATION ACT IN EFFECT

The state’s price gouging statute is in effect for Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie counties. 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.  Attorney General Gentner Drummond warned that anyone who violates the Act is subject to facing legal consequences.  

For more information or to report a complaint, individuals can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit toll free at 833-681-1895. 

RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGE

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to ask residents impacted by the recent storms to report damages to their property 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.

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.

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