Plains States Tornado Disaster Update
Release Date: May 7, 1999
Release Number: 1273-02b
» More Information on Kansas Tornadoes and Severe Storms
» More Information on Oklahoma Tornadoes, Severe Storms, and Flooding
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal, state and local officials are responding to the disasters in Oklahoma and Kansas. The following is the latest information on the situation:
Oklahoma
- There are 41 confirmed fatalities and 751 injuries in the wake of the tornadoes. The latest reports also indicate there still 13 people are missing.
- Current estimates indicate at least 899 structures were destroyed, 474 with major damage, and 1072 with minor damage. These include homes and businesses. The most recent damage assessments include the following:
- Oklahoma City: 645 structures destroyed (609 residential), 376 with major damage, 908 with minor damage
- Southern Hills Estates: 79 structures destroyed
- Mulhall: 95% of community destroyed
- Dover: 70 structures destroyed or with major damage
- Shawnee: 32 structures destroyed, 28 with major damage, 73 with minor damage
- Crescent: 30 structures destroyed, 51 with major damage
- Perry: 28 structures destroyed, 7 with major damage, 12 minor damage
- Tulsa: 8 structures destroyed, 7 with major damage, 60 with minor damage
- LeFlore: 2 structures destroyed, 1 with major damage, 8 with minor damage
- Damage to power lines, telephone lines, agricultural structures and trees is distributed along the southwest-to-northeast paths of the numerous tornadoes that hit the state. The latest estimate is 9,000 customers without power in Oklahoma City. Full restoration is expected to take seven to 12 days. At the height of the storm's impact at least 115,000 customers were without power.
- There are eight American Red Cross (ARC) shelters open housing 165 people. ARC is also operating 10 mobile feeding stations with 30 others en route. The ARC also has 10 damage assessment teams on site.
- Debris removal is well underway and victims have been allowed back into their homes to collect personal belongings.
- The Disaster Field Office in Oklahoma City will be partially operational tomorrow and fully operational by Sunday.
- A Disaster Recovery Center is expected to begin operation tomorrow morning.
- The Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), Oklahoma-1, has been released as local health facilities are able to handle ongoing health concerns.
- The Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team (DMORT) and Management Support Team (MST) continue operations in the area.
- FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Systems staff from the Bothell, Wash., and Denton, Texas, have been deployed to Oklahoma City.
- FEMA liaisons have been assigned to each of the affected localities and Community Relations teams are deploying to affected areas.
- Eight Urban Search and Rescue dogs, handlers and support personnel are in Oklahoma City and are engaged in search missions.
- Tinker Air Force Base in southeast Oklahoma City has been designated as the primary Base Support Installation (BSI) for support of Federal disaster operations.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had activated their Power, Water and Debris Planning and Response Teams (PRTs). The Water PRT has been deactivated. With the exception of six personnel, U.S. Army Prime Power units are deactivating and returning to their home base.
- The U.S. Treasury is expediting issuance of disaster housing program checks.
- The Civil Air Patrol has teams on the ground in the disaster area.
- Oklahoma state officials have invoked an Emergency Management Assistance Compact with neighboring states for needed resources, including two search dogs from Texas.
- Nearly 1,000 Oklahoma National Guard personnel, along with trucks, ambulances, generators, tents and light sets, have been mobilized to assist responders and to maintain security in damaged areas.
- Disaster operations are being supported by numerous Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.
- FEMA's regional operations center in Denton, Texas (Region VI) is activated and operating on a daytime only schedule.
- FEMA's Headquarters Emergency Support Team is operating 6 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in support of this and other disasters.
Kansas
- The latest damage figures indicate more than 8,475 structures were impacted. Of those, 1,109 were destroyed, more than 2,240 received major damage, and more than 5,125 received minor damage.
- State and local damage assessments indicate 27 businesses impacted. A plastics plant in Haysville, the town's largest employer, was destroyed.
- There are no American Red Cross (ARC) shelters open, although at the height of the storm there were three. The ARC is operating nine mobile feeding stations with 14 more en route.
- Power restoration is underway in the disaster area and is progressing well.
- A Disaster Field Office is expected to begin operation in Wichita tomorrow.
- FEMA communications technicians are en route Kansas from the Denver Mobile
Emergency Response System
- The first housing inspections are scheduled to be completed and the first disaster assistance checks dispersed Saturday.
- The FEMA Regional Operation Center in Kansas City, Mo. (Region VII) is operating a daytime only schedule.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-Dec-2003 15:55:15