SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTS STATE
May 27, 2024 – 11:30 a.m.
As a result of severe weather across the state, the State Emergency Operations Center remains activated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) remains in contact with emergency managers across the state and is coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, 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.
STATE OF EMERGENCY EXPANDED
The Governor’s State of Emergency has been updated to include additional counties impacted by recent storms, including those on May 25-26. Counties now included in the State of Emergency are Blaine, Carter, Cleveland, Canadian, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Custer, Delaware, Garfield, Hughes, Jackson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Love, Mayes, McClain, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Tillman, Wagoner, Washington, Washita, Woods, and Woodward.
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.
FATALITIES AND INJURIES
The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed two fatalities in Pryor as a result of storms Saturday night.
City of Claremore and Rogers County have confirmed 23 storm-related injuries.
SHELTERS AND MASS CARE
American Red Cross has opened two shelters for residents displaced by the storms:
- Memorial Heights Baptist Church, 1500 W. Will Rogers Blvd, Claremore
- Colcord Community Center, 433 S. Larmon Street, Colcord
American Red Cross has been providing meals for residents and responders in Claremore and Colcord.
The Salvation Army and Oklahoma Baptist Relief have teamed up to provide meals and snacks for responders in Claremore.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief has volunteers in Northeast Oklahoma to help residents with tree debris and other needs. Call 1-844-690-9198 to request assistance or visit www.okdisasterhelp.org.
For Claremore residents, a list of community-based services is available on claremore.com/weatheralerts. Additional volunteers are not needed at this time.
SUPPORTING AGENCIES
Oklahoma Task Force One assisted with Search and Rescue in Claremore.
Tulsa Incident Management Team has provided incident support for Claremore and Rogers County since early Sunday morning.
Cherokee Nation Emergency Management is supporting emergency managers and response agencies in northeast Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management has staff in the field providing support to local jurisdictions.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has been helping with traffic control in and around damage sites in numerous locations.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) crews have been assisting with clearing debris from roadways and provided additional road closure signage in Rogers County.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry requested support from the Oklahoma Large Animal Response Team and Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps to provide transportation for horses from the damaged Will Rogers Downs stables to the Tulsa Fairgrounds. The teams also supported medical needs as necessary.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality reports four water and wastewater systems have been impacted by recent storms. They are working with municipalities and counties to register sites for their storm debris.
POWER OUTAGES
Approximately 8,400 power outages are reported at this time. Areas with the highest outages are Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, McCurtain, and Choctaw counties.
RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGE
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking residents impacted by the 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.
PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT
The state’s price gouging statute is in effect. 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.
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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