FLOODING AND SEVERE WEATHER IMPACT STATE
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated due to ongoing flooding across the state. 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.
RESIDENTS ASKED TO REPORT DAMAGES
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management continues to ask residents impacted by severe storms or flooding to report damages to their property at damage.ok.gov. Reporting damage helps local and state emergency managers better coordinate response and recovery efforts and can help connect residents to resources. Residents can report damage to homes, businesses or agriculture through the online survey.
FATALITIES
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed seven flood-related fatalities since April 19:
- 2 – Cleveland County 4/19
- 2 – Wagoner County 4/21
- 1 – Comanche County 4/26
- 1 – Lincoln County 4/30
- 1 – Pottawatomie County 4/30
Two additional fatalities are attributed to severe storms:
- 1 – Adair County 4/19
- 1 – Hughes County 4/20
RESPONSE COORDINATION
Hominy remains under a water emergency today after a water line was damaged due to flooding. Tulsa Police Department Incident Management Team deployed four members to provide incident support. Midwest City Emergency Manager is providing support with public information. Osage Nation, Osage County, Creek County, Pawnee, and Okmulgee County provided water buffaloes.
Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Rural Water Association, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are continuing to provide technical support for impacts at area dams, including Lake Waxhoma Dam.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is providing sandbags for jurisdictions as needed, including 10,000 for Waurika.
The State EOC is supporting requests for swift water rescue teams for Stephens County and City of Waurika.
MASS CARE
American Red Cross will open a resource center in Lawton at First Baptist Church, 501 SW B. Ave. The center will be open the following days:
- May 4, 2-6 p.m.
- May 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- May 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
City of Waurika has a shelter site on standby to open if needed at Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Waurika.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief will be in Lawton next week to assist homeowners affected by recent floods. Call 1-844-690-9198 or visit okdisasterhelp.org to request assistance.
Use Be a Neighbor to connect with nonprofits and community organizations ready to help: BeANeighbor.org.
ROAD CLOSURES
Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following highways are closed due to flooding:
- SH-5B is closed south of Walters between SH-5A and US-70 in Cotton County.
- SH-80 is closed west of Hulbert in Cherokee County
- Scenic SH-77 is closed downstream of the Lake Murray Spillway in Love County.
- SH-48 is closed 1.5 miles south of I-40 in Okfuskee County.
Local roads or highways remain closed or washed out in 16 counties: Alfalfa, Carter, Cherokee, Cotton, Grady, Johnston, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, Muskogee, Nowata, Pottawatomie, Stephens.
Officials continue to remind drivers not to drive through flooded roads or drive around barricades to enter a flooded or flood-damaged road. In Oklahoma, it is illegal for any person to tear down, damage or remove any traffic-control devices or barricades or drive through, under, over or around the traffic-control devices or barricades to enter the closed area.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
A State of Emergency Remains in effect for three Oklahoma counties due to ongoing heavy rain, flooding, and severe weather that began April 19. Under the Executive Order, state agencies can make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions. The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary. The counties included in the governor’s declaration are Cleveland, Comanche, and Cotton. Damage assessments are ongoing, and additional counties are expected to be added to the Executive Order.
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.
