Update on Pottawatomie County Emergency Situation

Shawnee Mayor Wes Mainord and the Board of County Commissioners have signed Declarations of Emergency for Shawnee and Pottawatomie County respectively. Governor Mary Fallin has declared a State of Emergency for Pottawatomie County. This declaration triggers the "price gouging" statute as well as setting the stage for response and recovery operations.

 

2 fatalities occurred during the May 19 tornado in Pottawatomie County. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner confirms Glen Irish, 79 year old while male was found on a street in the Stillman Estates addition. Billy Hutchinson, 76 year old white male was found in an overturned vehicle and transported to Norman Regional Hospital where he passed away.

 

8 injured persons were transported to St. Anthony's Shawnee Hospital for treatment. 2 injured persons were transported to Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City for treatment.

 

Initial Damage Assessment surveys were conducted today. The results are 72 structures with minor damage, 29 structures with major damage, and 89 structures destroyed. We have 2 more housing additions to survey on Tuesday along with some isolated areas we want to check.

 

Damage to City of Shawnee assets at the Twin Lakes include: Parks/Police headquarters building destroyed; Police Patrol boat destroyed; Lake Park Pickup destroyed, Parks slope-mowing tractor destroyed, fishing dock with major damage, boat ramps with major damage.

 

The new boat dock on Lake # 2 is OK. Glenn Collins Park and the park on Lake # 2 were undamaged.

 

Shawnee Parks crews started cleaning debris from Issac Walton Park on the East side of Lake # 1. There are over 25 trees down in the park. It appears that there was no structural damage there.

 

O G and E and Canadian Valley Electric crews worked throughout the overnight hours and continued through the day today to secure and repair downed transmission lines. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company crews terminated service in the impacted areas. 

 

City of Shawnee Street crews cleared debris and trees from the roads in and around the Twin Lakes.

 

Pottawatomie County Road Crews worked to clear debris in the areas impacted in the county.

 

Governor Mary Fallin, State Insurance Commissioner John Doak, State Senators Harry Coates and Ron Sharp, and State Representatives Justin Wood and Josh Cockroft toured the most heavily damaged areas.

 

The Shawnee Economic Development Foundation staff reached out to industry to assess there status. Eaton; GE Oil and Gas; SLT; Shawnee Milling; ExxonMobil; UnitLiner; HMT; AL KO Kober; and Norwesco are reported no damages. Some employees of these corporations have homes that were damaged or destroyed.

 

The American Red Cross established a shelter at the Shawnee High School Athletic Facility. 11 persons registered on Sunday night, only 2 stayed overnight at the shelter.

 

The Pottawatomie County Health Department established an immunization trailer in the parking lot of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition (EXPO) Center, 1700 West Independence Street to distribute free tetanus shots to those who need them. Plans are to send 2 strike teams in the field on Tuesday.

 

Insurance Commissioner Doak established a staging area for insurance companies (also at the EXPO Center) for insurance carriers to meet with clients whose property was damaged.

 

The Oklahoma Baptist General Convention disaster relief teams are performing mass feeding operations in conjunction with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army's mobile canteen units working in the field.

 

The Baptist Convention has chain saw crews to assist the elderly, infirmed, or economically disadvantaged persons with tree debris removal. These teams may be accessed by calling 405-443-7583, 405-388-6912, or 405-415-5261.

 

Oklahoma Baptist University is offering the use of dorms for displaced persons during the summer break.

 

The Shawnee Police Animal Shelter has limited space available for pets that have been displaced from their owners because of the storm. The Shelter may be contacted at 405-878-1531.

 

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, and Kickapoo Tribe have been providing services to member families affected by the disaster as well as assisting with needs of other families affected and responders to the damage areas.

 

We have been bombarded with calls from individuals, businesses, and organizations offering to help. We appreciate the generous outpouring of support. At this time, we do not need any more supplies or equipment for the immediate response effort. Those who would like to contribute to the relief can best help right now by donating money to a reputable charitable organization of their choice.  We are working to establish a hotline where individuals who wish to volunteer or contribute items can be matched with those in need. We hope to be able to announce the number on Tuesday. In the mean time, persons who want to offer assistance can call the Shawnee/Pottawatomie County Emergency Management office at 405-878-1650 or the Shawnee Fire Department at 405-878-1671.

 

The Shawnee/Pottawatomie County Emergency Operations Center is standing down operations as of 6:00 P.M. and will resume operations with limited staffing at 8:00 AM on Tuesday.