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2010-01-29 04:53:19 - Snow Storm - USA EDIS CODE: SS-20100129-24727-USA
Date & Time: 2010-01-29 04:53:19 [UTC]
Area: USA, State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma-wide, Damage level: Heavy (Level 3)
Not confirmed information! Description: A powerful storm dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain on Oklahoma and the southern Plains Thursday, disrupting power to thousands of Oklahoma homes and businesses, canceling flights at the state's largest airports and shutting down major highways. Ice accumulations of more than one-half inch and high winds snapped electrical lines across Oklahoma, knocking out electrical power to about 57,000 homes and businesses. "In some places, as far you can see there are hundreds of utility poles on the ground," said Andrea Chancellor, spokeswoman for Public Service Company of Oklahoma. Chancellor said about 30,000 of PSO's electrical customers were without power in Chickasha, Elk City, Hobart and other areas in western Oklahoma. "It could be five days for all customers who can take power to get power restored," she said. Power was also disrupted to 12,240 customers of six rural electrical cooperatives in southwestern Oklahoma, where freezing rain had deposited one-half inch of ice on electrical lines, said Sid Sperry, spokesman for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. Sperry said repair crews were hampered by icy roads and winds that gusted up to 30 mph. "If the winds were light we'd probably be able to handle that ice without any problems," Sperry said. Tammy Huddleston of Cache, a customer of Cotton Electric Cooperative of Walters, said her house lost power around 2 p.m. when an electrical line snapped and fell in her front yard. Although without electricity, she said her family managed to keep warm with gas burners. Airlines canceled more than 100 flights at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City over concerns about icing on aircraft, said Karen Carney, the airport's public information and marketing manager. Carney said additional flights will likely be canceled Friday morning. "There will definitely be cancellations and delays for the first bank of departures," she said. Carney said travelers whose flights were canceled either returned to their homes or found hotel rooms. "The terminal is virtually empty," she said. "People have really been good about heeding advice and not just coming out." Another 35 flights were canceled at Tulsa International Airport, said Alexis Higgins, deputy airports director for the Tulsa Airport Authority. Most major television stations in Oklahoma City canceled normal programming as they reported the storm's march across the state and provided periodic updates of road, school and government office closures. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 44 southwest of Oklahoma City was closed due to downed power lines in the roadway. Toppled power lines also forced the closure of a portion of Interstate 40 in far western Oklahoma. Gov. Brad Henry declared a statewide emergency Wednesday for all 77 counties to help transportation crews and emergency responders prepare for the storm. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said up to 12 inches of snow is likely in northwestern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Freezing rain and sleet was forecast to turn to snow in central Oklahoma.
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