Tulsan’s Hit By Another Winter Blast
January 28, 2010
The greater Tulsa OK area is currently experiencing another Christmas Eve. Tulsan’s are now experiencing another Ice Storm very similar to the storm we had on Christmas Eve 2009 and the major ice storm of December 2007. This was the storm that cost Tulsa millions and we were not prepared for in any way. It took months if not years to recover from the 2007 ice storm because of all the devastation. The greater Tulsa area is expected to get up to 0.5 inches of ice and 6 inches of snow may accumulate before the storm wraps up Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The Icing will more than likely cause extended power outages in and around the Tulsa area, and American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma has called in out-of-state utility crews to begin making their way to Oklahoma.
Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of Emergency on Wednesday night for all 77 counties so that heavy power company vehicles won’t be hampered by road weight and size limits.
“Our hope is the storm will not be as severe as many weather models have predicted, but we will be ready to respond to anything,” Henry said. “State troopers, National Guard personnel, emergency management officials, road crews and other first responders will all be on call, helping Oklahomans everywhere they can.”
The Tulsa Chapter of the American Red Cross has shelters on standby throughout northeastern Oklahoma, including seven in Tulsa, three in Broken Arrow and one each in Jenks, Collinsville, Sand Springs and Owasso, said Brian Jensen, senior director of emergency services.
Cold weather after the storm will likely drive more people with power outages to Tulsa area shelters for warmth. Each are stocked with heater meals and breakfast items, Jensen said.
The Salvation Army’s regular shelter is already filled to capacity, he said.
The Red Cross has stocked enough food to supply 10 shelters for four days, in case trucks aren’t able to get around on the roads, Jensen said.
“We feel pretty comfortable rights now with what we’ve done as far as getting supplies in place,” he said. “The next step is just to watch the system hit.”
As the ice begins to stick to roadways, travel will become hazardous. City of Tulsa crews reported to work early this morning with 6,000 tons of salt ready to combat the ice and snow.
The high today should be 32 degrees, with a low of about 26 degrees, according to the weather service.
Statewide, several flights were canceled at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport.
The National Weather Service expected up to 12 inches of snow in western and northern Oklahoma, while ice storms and widespread power outages were anticipated in areas south of Interstate 44.
Ice accumulations snapped electrical lines in southwestern Oklahoma, knocking out power to 100 electrical customers in Kiowa County near Hobart, said Andrea Chancellor, spokeswoman for Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
Emergency managers in the region said they expected more power outages as the storm intensified.
“With the amount of ice we’re getting on the lines, probably this afternoon parts of town will be in the dark,” said Hobart Police Chief Rex Brown.
Matt Lehenbauer, emergency manager in Woodward County in northwestern Oklahoma, said forecasters were predicting 14 to 16 inches of snow in the area.
“It looks like we’re going to get more snow than ice,” Lehenbauer said. “Our biggest concern is the loss of power.”
Terri Angier of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation said the agency discouraged travel in the region. Do to the Tulsa area forecast Schools and businesses alike have closed in anticipation of this major winter blast of 2010.
“We are asking people to please stay home today,” Angier said. She said the storm appeared as intense as a Christmas Eve blizzard that dumped up to 14 inches of snow on parts of the state, stranding scores of motorists on snow-choked roads.
An ice storm in 2007 knocked out power to 650,000 utility customers across the state.
The latest storm comes after a Tulsa’s Christmas Eve blizzard dumped up to 14 inches of snow on parts of the state. Scores of motorists were stranded on snow-choked roads, and most major highways and the state’s largest airport were closed.
One Comment to Tulsan’s Hit By Another Winter Blast
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What I find interesting are the reactions of people before something like this hits. I will start with the young kids.
The elementary kiddos are just excited that school is going to be let out. They start making plans to play in the ice or snow, who is going to spend the night with who and if there is enough junk food in the house. You can see genuine excitement on their faces.
Next comes the middle schoolers, they too are excited that the school is out but get somewhat nervous about how long they will have to go without seeing their boyfriend/girlfriend. Thank God for text messaging and Facebook.
Now we have the free spirited young adult who understands and is prepared for the worst but until it happends will make a party out of it.
The more conservative young adult is nervous and watches the weather channel for minute by minute forcast and is thinking about what to do if the power goes out and genenrally can’t relax too much.
I work in a salon with 75% clientele is retired and they can’t really park their big long cars between the lines on a perfectly sunny day so they of course fret and stew, cancel appointments because they won’t get out in this weather. They are completely stressed out because they need their weekly hairdo.
The weather guys on tv are excited because this all means job security at least for the next few days.
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