Situation Update 4

June 21, 2023 – 4:30 p.m.

SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUES TO IMPACTS STATE

The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated due to the impacts of severe weather that occurred June 17-18. 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, Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, National Weather Service, Oklahoma American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief and other Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. ODEMHS has also been working closely with the Governor’s office and state legislators representing areas impacted by the storm.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

A State of Emergency is in effect for Choctaw, Creek, Delaware, Harper, Mayes, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and hail on June 17-18. The Executive Order marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

The Executive Order also extends the temporary suspension of size and weight limits for oversized vehicles and equipment responding from out of state to assist with power restoration efforts. Waivers have been in place since Thursday, June 15 to ensure quick mobilization from out of state utility partners.

STATE SUPPORT

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) has numerous staff in the field supporting emergency managers in the affected areas, assisting with damage assessments, and mass care coordination.

Additionally, through the State Emergency Operations Center, ODEMHS has fulfilled seven generator and light tower requests and helped coordinate additional generator requests via intrastate mutual aid.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is working with communities that have experienced impacts or damages to their public water system or wastewater system as a result of the storms and power outages. DEQ reports 27 systems have been impacted. Of those, 17 have returned to normal operations. They are also working with cities and counties to set up debris sites.

FATALITIES

The Office of The Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed two fatalities caused by the June 17-18 storms. The fatalities occurred in Creek and McCurtain counties.

MASS CARE

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams are currently serving residents in Broken Arrow, Claremore, Cushing, Inola, and Tulsa in NE Oklahoma as well as the Laverne area in NW Oklahoma. Residents who need help with trees down on houses, vehicles, or blocking entries or driveways can visit okdisasterhelp.org or call 844/690-9198.

Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma has distributed 950 food boxes in eastern Oklahoma.

American Red Cross continues to provide support for cooling centers and shelters.

Cooling centers and shelters are open at the following locations:

Broken Arrow Neighbors, 315 W. College Street, Broken Arrow, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd, Sand Springs, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Catoosa Community Center, 109 E. Oak, Catoosa, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Central Park Community Center, 1500 S. Main Street, Broken Arrow, Norman business hours
Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral, Tulsa, Open overnight
First Baptist Church Olive, 9372 S. 443 W Avenue, Drumright, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
HomeChurch, 720 W. New Orleans Street, Broken Arrow, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Wednesday
Jennings Senior Center, 308 N. Main, Jennings, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Lacy Park Community Center, 2134 N. Madison Place, Tulsa, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Nienhuis Park Community Center, 3201 N. 9^th Street, Broken Arrow, Normal business hours
Reed Park Community Center, 4233 S. Yukon Avenue, Tulsa, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Southminster Presbyterian Church Community Center, 3500 S. Peoria, Tulsa, Open 24 hours
WL Hutcherson YMCA, 1120 E. Pine Street, Tulsa, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Additional OG&E “Cool Zones” are available at the following locations: www.oge.com/coolzones

If you currently have SNAP benefits but lost all your food due to the June 17-18 storms, you can request replacement SNAP benefits. Oklahoma Department of Human Services at 405-522-5050 within 10 days of your food loss to request replacement benefits.

POWER OUTAGES

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission Reports 98,813 power outages statewide as of 4 p.m.

OG&E - Total: 5,489

Areas with >100 outages:

Bixby - 1,693
Sapulpa - 464
Oklahoma City - 409
Bristow - 394
Drumright - 344
Jennings - 310
Beggs - 306
Ripley - 246
Midwest City - 213
Tulsa - 207
Perkins - 152

PSO - Total: 91,143

By county, areas with >100 outages:

Tulsa - 2,999
Rogers - 2,977
Wagoner - 2,655
Creek - 1,001
Osage - 941
Mayes - 420
Delaware - 106

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

by county, areas >100 outages

Indian Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Total: 301

Creek - 255
Noble - 2
Osage - 3
Pawnee - 9
Payne - 17
Tulsa - 15

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative – Total: 930

Craig - 1
Mayes - 929

Cotton Electric Cooperative - Total: 713

Comanche - 1
Cotton - 572
Jefferson - 140
Central Rural Cooperative – Total: 119
Logan - 10
Payne - 109

PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT

The state’s price gouging statute is in effect for Choctaw, Creek, Delaware, Harper, Mayes, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner 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. For more information or to report a complaint, individuals can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit toll free at 833-681-1895.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond also encourages residents to be on the lookout for contractor fraud and to report suspected fraud by calling toll free 833-681-1895.

RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGE

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking 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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