SPRING SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUES IN OKLAHOMA
May 7 , 2024 – 9:30 p.m.
The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated due to impacts from recent severe weather. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) remains in contact with emergency managers from cities, counties, and Tribal Nations 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, the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and many others.
FATALITIES AND INJURIES
The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed one storm-related fatality in Barnsdall.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 10 injuries have been reported by area hospitals.
- 6 falls
- 2 transportation related
- 2 poisoning
STATE OF EMERGENCY
Governor Stitt today amended the State of Emergency to include additional counties impacted by storms beginning April 25 and continuing. All counties included in the State of Emergency are included below.
Blaine, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Custer, Garfield, Hughes, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Love, McClain, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Tillman, Wagoner, Washington, and Washita
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.
FEMA ASSISTANCE APPROVED IN OKMULGEE COUNTY
Okmulgee County has been added to the major disaster declaration for Oklahomans who sustained damage from severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 25.
Residents may be eligible for disaster assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, including rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to storm damage. Survivors living in Carter, Hughes, Love or Murray counties may also be eligible for disaster assistance. Additional counties may be added later.
Residents may apply to FEMA in several ways including online at DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices, or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Calls are accepted every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.
MASS CARE
Two American Red Cross shelters are open:
- Osage County Fairgrounds, 320 Skyline Dr, Pawhuska
- Crossway First Baptist Church, 2108 W. Broadway Ave., Sulphur,
Additionally, Red Cross is opening service centers for Oklahomans affected by the April tornadoes.
- 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, May 8th & 9th
1006 Northwest Blvd. in Ardmore
2108 W. Broadway in Sulphur
- 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 10th & 11th
402 W. Main in Marietta
Red Cross is also providing a canteen for approximately 400 responders in Barnsdall.
The Salvation Army is supporting a responders’ canteen in Barnsdall and Bartlesville with drinks, snacks and meals.
Mercy Chefs is providing hot meals in Barnsdall at Lighthouse Family Worship Center at 13749 OK-11, Barnsdall.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (OBDR) chainsaw teams are working in Osage, Washington and Kingfisher counties to help clear downed trees from resident’s property. OBDR is also providing a mass feeding team in Bartlesville. Requests for a chainsaw crew and/or mud-out/flood recovery can be made by calling 1-844-690-9198 or visiting okdisasterhelp.org.
Osage Nation Health Services has a medical van available for first aid for residents and volunteers in Barnsdall.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to coordinate Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments with FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and local emergency management in numerous impacted counties.
Oklahoma State Department of Health reports 30 residents of the damaged Barnsdall Nursing Home were relocated to three facilities in surrounding areas.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports continues to support search and rescue operations as well as traffic control and incident command support.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation is assisting with road blocking and security in Osage County.
Oklahoma Corporation Commission Pipeline Safety Inspectors are on-site in Barnsdall due to a pipeline release reported on Southern Star Central Gas’s pipeline shipping natural gas. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is also working the scene. OCC Transportation Division officers will assist local law enforcement overnight with security and traffic control.
FirstNet sent a Cell on Wheels (COW) to assist with cell phone coverage for responders in Barnsdall.
Verizon reports three towers down as well as fiber issues. Temporary COWs were put in place as crews work to restore fiber before turning their attention to the towers.
The Osage Nation is providing a generator for the Hominy water plant after a transmission line was damaged east of town. A boil order is in place. Osage Casino & Hotel has delivered 1,000 cases of bottled water, which will be available to all residents (while supplies last) at the Osage Casino in Hominy (39 Deer Ave., Hominy, OK). Osage Nation Crisis Assistance continues coordinating with Elder Nutrition to deliver water to registered homebound individuals.
Teams from Tulsa Oklahoma Task Force 1 and Oklahoma National Guard assisted with Search and Rescue.
Rogers County Emergency Management is providing a command trailer and technical assistance.
POWER OUTAGES
More than 5,100 outages were reported across the state as of 9:30 p.m. Counties with the most outages were Washington, Osage, and Craig.
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 now 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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