Oklahoma News Report

The latest round of tornadoes and severe weather should serve as a reminder to Oklahomans that a NOAA All Hazards Weather Alert Radio should be part of everyone’s preparedness plan, officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) said today.

Since Monday, Oklahoma has been pummeled with deadly tornadoes, straight line winds, and baseball and softball sized hail. Forecasts through the weekend call for steady rainfall and possible flooding especially in the southeast.

“It’s critical that you have multiple ways to get life-saving weather warnings no matter where you are or what time of day it is,” said OEM Director Albert Ashwood. “Tornadoes can strike at any time of day in Oklahoma and NOAA weather radios broadcast severe weather warning and watch information 24 hours a day,” he added.

Weather radios, with their ability to provide Emergency Alert System notifications including hazardous materials releases, earthquakes and AMBER alerts, mark a first line of defense, explained Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS Office at Norman. “They provide that initial warning message which lets us know to take immediate action to protect lives and property. When the warning alarm sounds on the weather radio, that’s your cue to go find additional information,” Smith said.

Weather radio technology has improved in recent years. Today, weather radios can be programmed to only provide warnings for select counties and are especially valuable when individuals are asleep and not paying attention to other weather information sources. Moreover, because weather radios include a battery back-up system, you are guaranteed continuous notification during power outages.

Early warning is critical to protecting lives. Relying on outdoor warning sirens is not an adequate plan since they may not be heard inside homes and businesses or at night when everyone is sleeping.

“Just as your home has a smoke detector, it should also have a NOAA Weather Radio,” Smith added

Pre-dawn thunderstorms packing winds of nearly 100 miles per hour, and perhaps a small tornado, slammed across Northeast Oklahoma May 13th damaging homes, businesses and the Port of Catoosa.

The storms stretched from Bartlesville to Henryetta and from Bristow to the Arkansas stateline.  However, most of the damage was concentrated in Tulsa County.

The storms snapped trees and power poles causing widespread power outages.  PSO reports 40,000 plus customers were affected.   Tulsa Public, Union Public and many small, private schools cancelled classes due to power outages.

Renovation work is just about to get underway at the Cherokee National Prison in Tahlequah. In the late 1800’s it was the only prison in Indian Territory.   See why the Cherokee Nation is now turning the prison into a museum in this story that aired May 11th on the Oklahoma News Report’s Preserving History segment.