Oklahoma State Emergency Operations Center

January 23, 2026 – 8:30 p.m.

WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS STATE

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 a.m. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma National Guard, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and others.

STRANDED MOTORIST ASSISTANCE RECOVERY TEAMS

The Governor has authorized the deployment of Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams, to include Oklahoma National Guard members and equipment. Seven teams, operating under the direction of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, consist of eight Guardsmen each, utilizing Humvees, wreckers, and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles.

These teams are based in Ardmore, Durant, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Vinita, Weatherford, and Woodward. The teams are collaborating with local first responders as well as Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to aid stranded motorists and assist residents in the hardest hit areas. Oklahoma Highway Patrol are removing stranded vehicles from along highway shoulders to ensure the roadway is open and clear during the storm.

Stranded motorists can request help by calling 911. Personnel from Oklahoma National Guard and Oklahoma Highway Patrol will arrive to help. They will transport the stranded motorist to a nearby warming center where American Red Cross staff and volunteers will be on site to assist.

SHELTERS AND WARMING STATIONS

American Red Cross and the Salvation Army have been supporting shelter operations and feeding in locations across the state, in coordination with local emergency management agencies.

More than 100 shelters and warming stations are open or on standby across the state.

The following shelters are currently open for overnight stays:

•        All Saints Episcopal Church, 325 E Washington St. McAlester
•        Ardmore Salvation Army, 123 A Street SW, Ardmore
•        Bartlesville B the Light, 219 N Virginia Ave, Bartlesville 
•        Bible Baptist Church, 226 S 29th St, Chickasha
•        C3 - Cross Connection Church, 329 N Pesotum Ave, Shawnee
•        Cameron Baptist Church, 2621 SW C. Ave. Lawton
•        Checotah Senior Center, 611 N Broadway, Checotah
•        Chickasha Bible Baptist Church, 226 S 29th St; Chickasha
•        Coalgate First Baptist Church, 106 w Hanover, Coalgate, 
•        Crosspoint Community Church, 12776 West US 270 McAlester
•        CrossPoint Church, 2601 24th SE, Norman
•        Durant Feeding Hope, 424 E Florida St, Durant
•        Elk City First Baptist Church, 1600 W. Country Club Blvd; Elk City
•        Enid Salvation Army, 516 N. Independence, Enid 
•        Fairview - Blackledge Event Center, 206 East Broadway, Fairview
•        First United Methodist Church Rowe Center, 315 S Okmulgee, Okmulgee
•        Grove Community Center, 104 West 3rd Street, Grove
•        Hands of Hope Food and Resource Center, 724 W Main Street, Durant
•        Higher Ground Church, 214 W. Farrall St, Shawnee
•        Lawton Salvation Army Corps, 1404 SW E Avenue, Lawton
•        Marshall Co. HFMC/ New Beginnings Shelter, 518 N First St, Madill
•        McAlester All Saints Episcopal Church, 325 E Washington Ave, McAlester
•        Northwest Baptist Church, 1030 H St, Miami
•        Pawhuska B the Light - 621 Leahy Ave, Pawhuska
•        Pioneer Room, 1218 9th St, Woodward
•        Pioneer Senior Center, 1000 Gartrell Place, Weatherford
•        Prospect Church, 2809 N. Missouri Ave, Oklahoma City
•        Resurrection House, 701 W Colorado Ave, Chickasha
•        Snyder Community Center/Senior Citizens Center, 1100 F St., Snyder
•        Springer Community Center, 130 Angus Ave, Springer
•        Tulsa BeHeard Winter Weather Shelter, 7216 E. Admiral Place, Tulsa

The following warming centers are open for daytime use:

•        Altus Community Center - 401 E Falcon Rd, Altus
•        Chickasha Soup Kitchen, 520 W Pennsylvania Ave, Chickasha
•        Devol First Baptist Church, 900 Wichita Ave, Devol
•        Hugo Compassion of Christ Ministry, 504 South F St, Hugo
•        Jay Community Center, 432 South 9th St, Jay
•        Victory Church Tulsa Dream Center West Campus, 4122 W 55th Place, Tulsa

See also OG&E Warming Centers list

Additional shelters and warming stations are open locally for people experiencing homelessness, including in Tulsa and Oklahoma City:

City of Tulsa Warming Centers and Shelters
City of Oklahoma City Warming Centers and Shelters

If you do not see a location in your area, check the Be a Neighbor website.

ROAD CLEARING, TREATMENT, AND MAINTENANCE

ODOT crews started pre-treating efforts across the state on Tuesday. Crews statewide continue to monitor the approaching weather system. Statewide winter resources for ODOT include more than 500 multi-use trucks, including approximately 50 in Oklahoma City and 25 in Tulsa.

This week, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority crews pre-treated turnpikes, bridges and overpasses. OTA has 100 trucks with plows ready, which includes 17 tow plows that plow multiple lanes at a time.

Both ODOT and OTA crews are closely monitoring weather as it approaches the state and will work around the clock and remain deployed until road conditions are clear. The agencies have plenty of materials stocked across the state to treat snowy and icy conditions through the duration of this winter weather event.

TRANSPORTATION WAIVERS IN PLACE

The state preemptively approved waivers on January 21 through the Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Corporation Commission for the temporary suspension of size and weight limits for oversized vehicles and equipment responding from out of state to assist with power restoration efforts. DPS has also issued declaration that relaxes state administrative rules to allow dealers of liquified petroleum to more easily refill tanks. The waivers will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. CST on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

PROACTIVE PRECAUTIONS AND PREPAREDNESS

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Center to monitor the winter weather event and coordinate response efforts. Health officials are working closely with regional and local emergency partners to track facility status and share regular situation reports with the State Emergency Operations Center, where OSDH serves as the lead agency for health and medical support.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been proactively coordinating with drinking water and wastewater facilities to help ensure they are fully prepared for extreme cold and potential power outages. DEQ remains ready and available to support these facilities and provide assistance as needed throughout this weather event.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) is hosting a daily call with utility providers to coordinate preparedness & response efforts and ready to provide assistance throughout the event as needed. OCC is working to protect consumers from any potential repeat effects experienced during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry and Oklahoma Forestry Services have multiple crews and equipment on standby to aid in emergency response, if needed.

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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