Gov. Kevin Stitt met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington, D.C. to discuss Oklahoma agriculture and how the state and federal government can work together to support Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in the wake of flooding. “I was honored to meet with Secretary Perdue as we talked about ways to move Oklahoma…
Tulsa area residents who got flooded in the recent storms are questioning the policies of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning the timing and the rates of release of water from the Keystone Dam. Why, they ask, didn’t the Corps order more water released when heavy rains were forecast? If Keystone Lake had been…
President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster in Tulsa, Wagoner and Muskogee counties in the wake of the recent tornadoes, heavy rains and flooding that started May 7. This means Oklahoma businesses and residents can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, according to, U.S. Small Business Administration’s acting Administrator Christopher M. Pilkerton. Businesses of…
Historic levels of water released from Keystone After a week of torrential rain, tornadoes and a mild earthquake, the biggest potential for damage to the Tulsa metro area will be flooding from the Arkansas River. In order to save Keystone Dam, the Army Corps of Engineers increased the release of water at Keystone Dam Monday…
Many communities across the state are dealing with flooded areas after the recent storms. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reminds the public that floodwater and standing water can be dangerous, making a person vulnerable to diseases, chemical hazards and injuries. Floodwaters contain many potential hazards such as downed power lines, household trash, medical…
Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for 52 counties – including Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Washington, Creek, Osage and Okmulgee – due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that began April 30. Those counties are: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell,…
Disasters can alter a family’s normal routine with little warning. Neighborhood streets can be closed because of large debris or downed power lines. Suddenly, an area that is a familiar part of a normal daily routine is now unrecognizable. In times like this, it is crucial for a family to have a plan to reunite…
More than 50 experts from around the country will share their knowledge on disaster preparedness and recovery at the 2019 National Tornado Summit March 4-6 in Oklahoma City. “This conference is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover how to prepare for the worst but also how to recover quickly and efficiently from all types of disasters,”…
Joe Kralicek, Executive Director of the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency, Steve Piltz, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service in Tulsa, and Stan Whiteford from Public Service Company of Oklahoma, spoke about weather preparedness for Tulsa. The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from certain segments of the Tulsa…
The devastation caused by September’s Hurricane Florence and related tornadoes are certainly appalling, and condolences are in order. However, seen in a long-term perspective, what humans define as disasters are an opportunity for improvement, just like in nature. We must rethink disasters and reduce risk as much as reasonably possible but also recognize that they…