SPRING SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTS OKLAHOMA
May 9, 2024 – 8 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.
TOPLINE MESSAGES
- Today, Governor Stitt announced that FEMA Assistance for Pontotoc and Osage counties has been approved. Damage assessments are ongoing and additional counties may be added at a later date.
- Donations of water, food, clothes, and other commodities are no longer needed.
- Do not send unsolicited donations of water, clothing, or other miscellaneous items, which must be sorted, warehoused, transported and distributed. This requires more efforts and staffing to manage those resources and takes away from recovery efforts.
FATALITIES AND INJURIES
The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed five fatalities related to storms beginning April 25 and continuing:
- Two in Holdenville (mobile home)
- One on Interstate 35 near Marietta (vehicle)
- One fatality in Sulphur (business)
- One in Barnsdall
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), 79 injuries have been reported by area hospitals as a result of storms on Monday, May 6.
- 44 falls
- 6 transportation related
- 8 struck by or against
- 9 cut/pierce
- 1 burn
- 3 poisoning
- 8 other
OSDH totaled 296 storm-related injuries reported by area hospitals in late April.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
A State of Emergency remains in effect for 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 counties this morning due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, hail, and flooding that began on April 25. 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 AVAILABLE FOR SEVEN COUNTIES
Disaster assistance is now approved for Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage and Pontotoc counties. The designation delivers assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.
To apply for disaster assistance individuals and business owners in Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, and Okmulgee counties may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
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
A shelter is also open in Bartlesville at Be the Light Fellowship at 1244 SE Washington Blvd, Bartlesville.
NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Mobile feeding, emergency supply distribution and residential damage assessment continues in Osage and Washington counties. Meals will be served in shelters for as long as they are open.
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. They’ve provided more than 3,600 meals to date.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (OBDR) chainsaw teams are working in Osage and Washington 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.
Hot showers are available at YMCA in Bartlesville for residents impacted by the storms. Planet Fitness at 514 SE Washington Blvd is also providing use of their showers, but do not currently have electricity.
Riverside RV Park at 1211 SE Adam Blvd Bartlesville has spots available for residents displaced by the storms to set up their RV at no cost.
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) has scheduled multiagency resource centers. These events bring together public agencies and nonprofits to offer people a “one-stop shop” for assistance and recovery resources and information.
- Sulphur - Faith Center Church, 2630 W. Broadway Ave. 1-7 p.m. on May 10 & 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 11
- Ardmore - Ardmore Heritage Hall, 220 W. Broadway St. 1-7 p.m. on May 15
- Marietta - Love County Fairgrounds, 1-7 p.m. on May 16
FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center opened today at the Murray County Extension Office, 3490 Highway 7 West, Sulphur.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Center is open in Sulphur at the Parker Memorial Library, 500 W. Broadway, Sulphur.
Additionally, American Red Cross will have a service center open for Oklahomans affected by the April tornadoes from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11 at 402 W. Main St. in Marietta.
Residents can pick up donated goods like water, food, and other supplies at the Murray County Expo Center at 3490 Highway 7 West, Sulphur. Murray County is reminding residents they do not need any additional water or supplies donated at this time.
JAMM Transit is providing transportation in Sulphur to assist in getting resources for all who have been affected by this devastating tornado. Call 580-352-3124 for more information.
Big Five Community Services is offering its Love County transit service free of charge on all medical, pharmacy, chemo. treatments, kidney dialysis, doctor appointments, etc., along with any trips needed by citizens to get to and from employment. They are also offering free round-trips to Ardmore for groceries Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., and will continue to do so until not needed as Marietta's only grocery store was destroyed. The food bank in Marietta also continues to serve residents.
Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Samaritan’s Purse has Chainsaw teams available to assist with debris cleanup in Murray, Hughes, and Love counties. Call 1 (844) 690-9198 or visit okdisasterhelp.org to request assistance.
STATE 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 Department of Human Services is providing Replacement SNAP Benefits to households affected by severe storms. If your household was affected the storms and you lost food due to extended power outages, you may be eligible to request replacement benefits. Submit your request form by May 28, 2024, to access replacement benefits.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports continues to provide traffic control and command support in Osage County.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation is assisting with road blocking and security in Osage County.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) continues to support 3 public water and wastewater systems are currently impacted by May 6 storms. DEQ has confirmed that Skiatook has a generator that can be used to bring the Barnsdall water plant back online. A precautionary boil order has been issued.
DEQ is also working with municipalities and counties to register sites for their storm debris. Visit their website for more information on cleanup for residents and local jurisdictions: https://www.deq.ok.gov/external-affairs-division/for-media/severe-weather-flooding-information/
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is available to help residents with issues they may have with their insurance claims. Call the Oklahoma Insurance Department Consumer Assistance Division at 800-522-0071. You can also find more information about preparing for storms and reviewing your insurance coverage at oid.ok.gov/get-ready.
RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGE
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is asking residents impacted by the storms to report damages to their property atdamage.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.
###
