Oklahoma City, Okla. – Governor Kevin Stitt today declared a state of emergency for 52 counties due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that began Tuesday, April 30.
The counties included in the governor’s declaration are: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, and Washington.
The storm system has delivered tornadoes, high winds, and widespread rain since early Tuesday, with damage reported to homes, businesses, outbuildings, trees and power poles. Nearly six inches of rain has been measured in some areas of northeast and southeast Oklahoma.
Under the governor’s executive order, state agencies may 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 executive order is in effect for 30 days, and could be amended to include additional counties if needed.
