WILDFIRES IMPACTING STATE
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated due to ongoing wildfire response and recovery efforts. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers across the state and coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Forestry Services, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Grand River Dam Authority, National Weather Service, Tribal Nations, Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and others.
A red flag warning remains in effect for northwest Oklahoma until 9 p.m. today due to gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. A fire weather watch will be in effect Monday and Tuesday. Fires are still ongoing in many areas and damage assessments are ongoing.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
Governor Kevin Stitt declared a State of Emergency today for 12 Oklahoma counties due to ongoing wildfires and fire weather conditions that began Friday. 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, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, and Stephens
FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS SECURED
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the state’s request for 13 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for the following fires:
- 840 Road Fire – Leedey, Roger Mills County
- Stillwater Fire – Stillwater, Payne County
- Luther Fire – Luther/Arcadia/Edmond, Oklahoma County
- East Thunderbird Fire – Little Axe/Norman, Cleveland County
- Little Salt Creek Fire – Mannford, Creek County
- Chandler Fire – Chandler, Lincoln County
- Logan County Fire – Guthrie, Logan County
- Wildhorse Fire – Velma, Stephens County
- Clear Pond Fire – Bethel Acres/Shawnee, Pottawatomie County
- Underwood Fire – Yale / Cushing, Payne County
- Keystone Fire – Osage, Pawnee County
- Barn Fire – Cleveland, Pawnee County
- Norge Fire – Chickasha, Grady County
The FMAGs may help reimburse local governments, volunteer fire departments and other first responders for costs associated with responding to the fires. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of state, local and tribal government eligible firefighting costs for the designated fires. Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Fire departments and other agencies that responded to the fires above are advised to document all costs related to equipment and supplies (including fuel), labor costs, travel and per diem, temporary repairs of damage caused by firefighting activities, mobilization, and demobilization.
INJURIES
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 112 injuries related to the fires have been reported by area hospitals.
- Burn - 6
- Cut/Pierce - 9
- Fall - 27
- Poisoning - 1
- Struck - 12
- Transportation Related - 19
- Other Fire Related - 38
MASS CARE
The American Red Cross is supporting feeding at shelters and to emergency responders in Cleveland, Oklahoma, Logan, Payne, Stephens, Pottawatomie, and McClain counties. They have served 920 meals. They are also providing emergency supplies.
The Salvation Army will begin providing up to 1,200 meals per day in Stillwater on Sunday, March 16. They will be deploying feeding units to support Stillwater, Mannford and Pawnee.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is supporting feeding in Stillwater and Pawnee as well. They are providing lunch and dinner in Leedey for 275 people today.
The following site are open for day or overnight shelter:
- 1st Methodist Church of Mannford, 100 E Greenwood Ave, Mannford (Overnight)
- Ada Comfort Shelter, 115 N Turner St, Ada
- Case Community Center, 1050 W Wekiwa Rd, Sand Springs
- Charter Oak Elementary, 4900 E Charter Oak Rd, Guthrie
- Checotah City Hall, 200 N Broadway, Checotah
- Coalgate First Baptist Church, 106 West Hanover, Coalgate
- Community Church, I35 & Seward Rd NW Corner, Guthrie
- CrossPointe Church Norman, 2601 24th Ave SE, Norman
- Elk City First Baptist Church, 1600 W Country Club Blvd, Elk City (Elk City)
- Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Boulevard, Shawnee (Overnight)
- Hands of Hope Food and Resource Center, 724 W. Main St, Durant (Overnight)
- Hugo-Compassion of Christ Ministries, 301 W. Main, Hugo
- Life Church Shawnee, 5113 N Harrison, Shawnee
- Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1023 W 15, Chandler
- Luther Community Center, 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther (Overnight)
- Payne County Fair Grounds, 4518 Expo Circle East, Stillwater (Overnight)
- Pleasant Ridge Schoolhouse, 125 N. Commercial Ave, Temple
- Pryor Impact Center of Oklahoma, 315 N Adair, Pryor (Overnight)
- Stephens County Fair Ground, 2002 13th Street South, Duncan
- Stillwater Church of Christ, 821 N Duck St, Stillwater
- Stillwater High School, 1224 N. Husband St, Stillwater
- Stillwater Community Center, 315 W 8th Ave, Stillwater
- Stillwater Senior Activity Center, 1015 E 12th Ave, Stillwater
- Sunnybrook Christian Church, 421 E Richmond Rd, Stillwater (Overnight)
- Vici Community Center, 604 Main St, Vici
- West Siloam Assembly of God, 5524 Cedar Drive, Colcord
POWER OUTAGES
Power crews have been working diligently to restore power across the state. Currently, there are 6,300 outages statewide.
PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT
The Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect following today’s declaration of emergency for 12 counties devastated by yesterday’s wildfires. The law, also referred to as the price gouging statute, prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent for the price of goods and services and helps protect citizens from unfair price hikes. The statute is in effect for Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Stephens Counties.
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 9-1-1 for emergencies.
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