Friday, March 27, 2009

Plan and Prepare

Winter Weather is not done with us yet. Blizzard type conditions are being expierenced
in the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas, and Southeast Colorado, and Eastern
New Mexico.

ARE YOU READY ???

Make a plan, get a kit, be prepared.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is each
persons responsibility to plan for local emergencies and disasters.

Make a plan.... There are several websites, brochures, and books available to help
a person or family prepare a plan.

Get a Kit........ There are several websites, brochures, and books available to help
a person or family prepare and aquire items for a 72 hour kit.
The kit should contain items needed for each person in the
household to survive 72 hours without assistance.

Be Prepared..... Listen to the local media and follow the advise and requests of
Local Officials.
In Altus, follow Altus EM of twitter at www.twitter.com/altusem
or their blog at www.altusem.us for up to date information.

For more information about Winter Storms go to www.swoarc.org or call the Chapter
Office at 482-5303, or come by the Office at 905 N. Willard, Altus, OK.

Storm Reports

At 8:30 the News Media was reporting that power had been restored
to the town of Buffalo.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that roads conditions are getting
worse in Northwest Oklahoma. Several accidents have been reported,
some with injuries.

Travel is discouraged in NW Oklahoma.

For Southwest Oklahoma, please use caution and do your traveling
as early as possible today before the snow starts.

Review your plan, Check your kit, be prepared. Stay weather aware
today by listening to the local media, check the Altus Emergency management
blog often at www.altusem.us

OEM SIT UP 1

Situation Update 1
March 27, 2009 – 7:30 a.m.

CONTACT: Michelann Ooten, Public Information Officer
Office 405-521-2481; Mobile 405-205-1879


WINTER STORM IMPACTING STATE

Due to the severe winter weather, the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level Two activation, which involves extended operating hours for key personnel. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is in contact with emergency managers in the affected areas.

WEATHER CONDITIONS
The National Weather Service has posted a Blizzard Warning for all of the Oklahoma panhandle and much of the northwest. Snow accumulations of 10-15 inches are likely with sustained winds of 40 mph, gusting to 50 mph. A Winter Storm Warning continues for southwest, west-central, central, and north-central Oklahoma. Snow accumulations of 8-12 inches are likely with sustained winds of 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph. Southern areas of the warning may receive 4-6 inches of snow. A Winter Storm Watch continues for northeast Oklahoma, where snow accumulations of 4-6 inches are expected.

ROAD CONDITIONS
Roadways in Cimarron and Texas counties are slick and hazardous. Roadways in Beaver, Harper, Ellis and Woodward are slick in spots and deteriorating steadily.

I-40 is closed from the Texas-New Mexico border to Tucumcari, N.M. due to a hazardous materials incident. Two trucks are blocking I-40.

To check CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS call the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's ROAD CONDITIONS HOTLINE 888-425-2385. For out-of-state road conditions: Texas 800-452-9292 and New Mexico (800) 432-4269

RESOURCE COORDINATION
OEM is working with FEMA to secure delivery of industrial size generators that would be used for shelters and to provide power to water treatment facilities in the event of electric service disruptions. This will add to state generators pre-staged in the panhandle.

LOCAL REPORTS
Guymon/Texas County Emergency Management reports about 3 inches of snow on the ground with more coming down. Additionally, four fire departments are providing mutual aid on a fire in Hooker.
Harper County Emergency Management reports the Town of Buffalo (pop. 1,200) is without power.

Follow Oklahoma Emergency Management on twitter at
http://www.twitter.com/okem

Storm Reports

I have heard from the News Media this morning that areas around
Woodward already have 1 foot of snow on the ground.

Power outages are also being reported in Harper County.
The towns of Buffalo and Laverne are without power.

At 7:15 AM the Emergency Manager advised they are waiting on
the Electric Company to assess the the situation and give them
a estimated time to have power retored before making
a decission to open shelters.

Winter Storm Warning

Click on the name to go to the NWS enhanced webpage.

Kingfisher-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson
441 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2009

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a Winter Storm Warning
for Heavy Snow...which is in effect from 1 PM this afternoon to 1 PM CDT Saturday.

Snow is forecast to begin falling over Southwest Oklahoma by late morning and
spread eastward into protions of Central Oklahoma this afternoon. The snow
may be heavy at times with the possibility of Thundersnow. Snow will continue
to fall Friday night into early Saturday before ending. Total snow accumulations
greater than 4 inches are expected.

A Winter Storm Warning means that significant amounts of snow are expected or
occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous
or impossible.