SEVERE WEATHER IMPACTS STATE
April 28, 2024 – 3 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 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.
GOVERNOR STITT ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 12 COUNTIES
Governor Kevin Stitt issued a State of Emergency for Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne and Pontotoc counties this morning due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, hail, and flooding that began on April 27.
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 three storm-related fatalities:
2 fatalities in Holdenville
1 fatality on Interstate 35 near Marietta
Governor Stitt announced a fourth fatality in Sulphur.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 100 injuries have been reported by area hospitals:
25 Cut/Pierce
30 Falls
16 Struck By or Against
17 Transportation Related
12 Other
STATE SUPPORT
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has coordinated numerous resource requests for search and rescue teams, operations support teams, and mass care.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted with search and rescue, traffic control in numerous locations. Oklahoma Department of Transportation assisted with road closures and debris removal off roadways. Oklahoma Corporation Commission provided support for utility outages.
Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is available to help residents with issues they may have with their insurance claims. Contact OID at 800-522-0071 or visit their website at http://www.oid.ok.gov/after.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality staff is out in the field checking on water/wastewater systems. There are some on backup power sources and are having no issues. One system is without power and has no backup power source, however they anticipate power restoration before they have issues.
MASS CARE
The American Red Cross of Oklahoma opened a shelter in Sulphur (Crossway First Baptist Church Sulphur, 2108 W. Broadway Ave.) last night with 25 residents staying overnight, and is opening another shelter in Ardmore today (Christ Community Church Ardmore, 2620 Mount Washington Road). Mass care and feeding responses are ongoing.
Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has two chainsaw teams in Morris and a mass feeding kitchen en route to Sulphur to provide at least 200 meals tonight. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)-trained chaplains are also available for affected residents and first responders.
The Salvation Army is providing first responders in Murray County with meals as of breakfast this morning. Meals for responders in Love County with start with dinner tonight. Each service will run until no longer needed. Emotional and spiritual care workers are also available. The Salvation Army is determining need for clean-up kits and other supplies tomorrow.
STORM REPORTS
Hughes County Emergency Management reports 14 homes are damaged or destroyed in Holdenville. All lanes of north and southbound SH-48 are closed between SH-9E and US-270, near Holdenville due to severe weather clean-up. Muscogee Creek Nation is assisting with debris clearing and searching for area of impact. Seminole and Seminole County Emergency Management and Fire and Sheriff are providing command support. Oklahoma City Task Force One was requested to respond Sunday for Search and Rescue support. Pottawatomie County drone team is assisting with damage assessments.
Love County Emergency Management reports damages in and around Marietta including damage to the Marietta Hospital. Hospital patients took shelter during the storms and no injuries in the hospital are reported. All lanes of southbound I-35 are now open and northbound I-35 is narrowed to one lane at mm 15 in Marietta following severe weather. Drivers should continue to use extra caution in the area and be prepared for delays or intermittent lane closures as crews work to clear debris from overnight severe weather. All lanes of north and southbound US-77 are closed south of Marietta due to severe weather clean-up.
McIntosh County: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports all lanes of US-266 are closed at N 4220 Rd., just east of Checotah, due to high water.
Murray County Emergency Management reports significant damage in Sulphur and numerous injuries. All lanes of SH-7 and US-177 are closed in Sulphur due to severe weather clean-up.
Okfuskee County Emergency Management reports four properties with damage including three homes and one outbuilding.
Pittsburg County Emergency Management conducted three swift water rescues; one in the Hartshorne area, one on Hardy Springs Road, and one at New Baker Road. North and southbound US-69B are closed between SH-113 and McAlester due to high water. All lanes of east and westbound SH-31 are closed between New Baker Rd. and Haywood Rd. due to high water. All lanes of east and westbound SH-63 are closed between Crawley Rd. and Hopper Rd. due to high water.
Pontotoc County Emergency Management reports flooding in Ada and streetlights down on Arlington Street, as well as multiple roads washed out and trees across roads in SW Pontotoc County. Vehicles are stranded in the Byng area, and multiple other roads closed due to high water throughout the county.
Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports seven structures damaged in Dale and unincorporated areas of Shawnee along with six vehicles damaged and numerous downed trees and power lines.
Wagoner County Emergency Management reports downed powerlines trapped occupants in cars in ditches or motels. Numerous damages to structures are reported including an apartment complex roof removed. Downed trees are causing access issues for responders.
POWER OUTAGES
Approximately 22,000 outages are reported statewide. Areas with the highest number of damages are Carter, Love, Johnston, Murray, and Hughes counties.
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.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told residents to beware contractors who go door-to-door, demand upfront payment and use aggressive sales tactics. Agents from the OAG’s office will be visiting communities with storm damage to help prevent contractor fraud, and residents may report fraud to 1-833-681-1895 or consumerprotection@oag.ok.gov.
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.
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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