Claremore Braces for Major Ice Storm
January 28, 2010
Rogers County specifically the community of Claremore Oklahoma is bracing for more winter weather. Today, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that includes Rogers County and surrounding counties. The warning is an upgrade from a winter weather watch issued earlier this week.
Claremore is bracing for this end of January 2010 ice storm, in hopes that it does not experience the same devastation, that was caused during the ice storm of December 2007. Thousands lost power, for not only days but weeks, and in a lot of cases the trees still have not totally recovered, as some were totally lost. Not to include all the millions of dollars of damage that was caused by fallen limbs to include damage to homes, power lines and autos.
The Claremore weather warning is in effect from 6 am Thursday until noon on Friday and includes snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
Although it’s not likely Claremore will have a repeat of the 2007 ice storm which left millions without power for an extended period of time, officials say Northeast Oklahoma will receive a pretty powerful shot of sleet and snow over the next two days.
Local Claremore officials are urging residents to stock up on food, fuel and cash in case of power outages. “Everyone needs to make sure they have cash on hand, because if the power goes out, you will only be able to pay in cash,” Rogers County Emergency Management Director Bob Anderson said. “Also make sure you have enough fuel and nonperishable foods. Stock up because we don’t need anyone out there in this weather.”
According to the report by weather service, a mixture of sleet and freezing rain will spread across Northeast Oklahoma after sunrise on Thursday.
Heaviest accumulations of ice are expected south of I-44 with sleet more common to the north in the Claremore area and closer to the Kansas border.
National Weather Service defines sleet as “pellets of ice composed of frozen or mostly frozen raindrops or refrozen partially melted snowflakes. These pellets of ice usually bounce after hitting the ground or other hard surfaces.”
Heaviest precipitation is expected late Thursday afternoon continuing through Thursday night and into Friday.
Northwest of I-44 sleet should transition to snow, especially after sunrise Friday.
“It’s an in and out storm,” said Anderson. The storm is predicted to end by Friday afternoon, but could impart considerable damage in rural areas. Ice accumulations are expected to “impact much of the I-44 corridor.”
Power outages are anticipated along the corridor of heaviest ice accumulation. In rural areas like Claremore these power outages could last for several days. Residents are warned not to touch downed power lines.
Please Note: If you plan using a generator during any proposed power outages, you need to check those before the storm hits to ensure it is working properly and to install carbon monoxide detectors inside the home. Never run a generator inside the home or any enclosed area where people are taking shelter or sleeping. Also, do not plug in directly into an outlet to help and avoid back feeding the line and to prevent supplying unexpected power back to the main line. Also, you should make sure you have plenty of fuel to make it through the next 3-5 day winter blast.
Once again food, fuel and cash in case of power outages should be at the top of your list if you live north east Oklahoma or specifically the Claremore Oklahoma area.
