Situation Update 5

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

June 22, 2023 – 3:30 p.m.

SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUES TO IMPACT 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 storms.

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 Forestry Services Division, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are sending crews with chainsaws and heavy equipment to help clear debris from roadways and other locations in Tulsa.

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, mass care coordination, and technical assistance. 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 continuing to serve residents in affected areas. They provided meals to residents in Laverne from June 18 through June 21 and began serving meals at Owasso First Baptist Church beginning on June 21 to support residents in the Tulsa metro area. They have chainsaw teams in Laverne and northeast Oklahoma assisting residents who need help with trees down on houses, vehicles, or blocking entries or driveways. Visit okdisasterhelp.org or call 844-690-9198 to request assistance.

Samaritan’s Purse also has chainsaw teams in the Tulsa area assisting with large debris clearing for residents.

The Salvation Army is set up at the Case Center in Sand Springs to provide meals for lunch and dinner.

Bridging Hunger has been providing food to residents at locations in Tulsa and Sapulpa.

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

City of Tulsa opened an ice distribution site today at Church on the Move at 1003 N. 129^th E. Avenue in Tulsa. The site will be open until 8 p.m. while supplies last.

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 food loss to request replacement benefits.

POWER OUTAGES

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission Reports 63,398 power outages statewide as of 2:15 p.m.

OG&E - TOTAL: 569

Areas with >100 outages:

Ripley - 246

PSO - Total: 62,732

By county, areas with >100 outages:

Tulsa - 57,391
Rogers - 1,952
Wagoner - 1,498
Creek - 1,173
Osage - 526
Mayes - 183

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

No areas with more than 100 outages.

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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