President Issues Disaster Declaration for Oklahoma

Due to the devastation caused by the major ice storm that moved through Oklahoma last week, President Bush issued a major disaster declaration for seven Oklahoma counties. President Bush has ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by the severe winter storms.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storms in the counties of Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Tulsa, and Wagoner.

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Utility companies across Oklahoma say they expect to restore electricity to most customers later today (12-19) or tomorrow.

Power Still Out Across the State

We have been lucky enough that we haven't lost power. Jenn's mom did and came and stayed with us for 2 days. Her car was literally frozen to a tree outside her apartment! I had to go to Norman and bring her back to OKC. Norman was completely dark. Wal-Mart was closed. There were 2 McDonald's open and busy, busy, busy.


Thousands in Dark After Huge Ice Storm (excerpts)

A massive storm that dropped sleet and freezing rain across the nation's
midsection, leaving nearly a million utility customers without electricity,
finally tapered off, but another wintry blast was forecast to develop Wednesday
over the southern Plains.

At least 24 deaths have been blamed on the storm since it developed
last weekend. Most resulted from traffic accidents. The 24 deaths blamed
on the weather include 15 in Oklahoma, four in Kansas, three in Missouri and one
each in Nebraska and Michigan.

The owner of a tree service in Tulsa, Okla. calls it a storm of "biblical
proportions." He estimates it will take six months to clean up the damage from
the ice storm affecting that city and many others across the nation's
midsection.

The power outage was the worst ever in Oklahoma, with more than 618,000
homes and businesses without electricity late Tuesday. Officials said it could
be a week to 10 days before power is fully restored.

"We're relying on people to look after each other," Oklahoma City Mayor
Mick Cornett said. "At the end of the day, this comes down to the strength of
your people. ... People who have electricity ought to be sharing it with people
who don't."


"We've got kerosene lamps and a fireplace," said Charita Miller of
Oklahoma City. "We're OK. We can't watch TV. Oh well, you can't have everything.
It's just me and my husband. My husband said, `there's food in the
freezer.'"

Sonya Kendrick, who spent Monday night at one of several American Red Cross
shelters set up in Oklahoma City, said a tree ripped the electrical box off the
side of her house, and she needed a warm place to take her three children until
repairs could be made.

Officials in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma had declared states of emergency. President Bush declared a federal emergency in Oklahoma on Tuesday, ordering government aid to supplement state and local efforts.

Crazy Ice!

We are iced in! There was some crazy storms this weekend and they are predicting snow now. Our office is closed and the boys school is closed. I haven't even tried to go out and scrape my car, yet. It is like a brick of ice! We tried to break off some of the ice that was on our front porch. I got a chunk and it was about 2 inches thick! I hope it all starts melting soon!