The price tag for damage in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties from last week’s ice storm is still being tabulated but on Monday both County Commissions officially declared a State of Emergency.
They adopted resolutions to coincide with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s declaration of a State of Emergency for 47 counties.
A late October ice storm last week forced several school closures and caused power outages throughout areas of Pottawatomie and Lincoln.
Many areas were without power all week and some didn’t have it even on Monday.
Carney Fire Department Medical Officer Sarah Smith saw a need and immediately jumped into action.
“I’ll glove up, I’ll mask up, I’ll do whatever to help,” she said.
With temperatures in the 30’s Smith knew there were children and elderly community members without generators who would need food.
Since the Carney Fire Department had a generator and electricity, Smith started cooking chili and soups to have available to the community.
Within 24 hours, Smith said they had helped over 50 people.
District 3 Lincoln County Commissioner Lee Doolen, who is chairman of the commission, said over the weekend, “We had six inches of rain up here. So the roads got pretty muddy.”
Doolen noted, “But we didn’t have any huge limbs blocking roadways. Our county road system is pretty lucky,” he believes.
The commissioner said electricity-wise, “All of those in the county on Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative had power as of Friday They put that out to us Friday afternoon.”
He’s on CVEC and got his power back late Thursday night. “It was good to take a hot shower,” Doolen commented.
Doolen stressed, “Still don’t have an estimate of the damage in the county.”
Pottawatomie County District 1 Commissioner Melissa Dennis said like Doolen, “I have no idea of the estimate of damage in the county yet. It will be a while before we have any idea.
Her district, which is the northern portion of the county, apparently suffered the heaviest damage.
She said District 2 Commissioner Randy Thomas had indicated he had some damage, especially around the Shawnee Twin Lakes area and that District 3 Commissioner Eddie Stackhouse’s district was spared any damage.
Dennis said on Monday afternoon, “I’m having four dumpsters brought to my District 1 yard on Acme Road so people who don’t want to wait for us to pick their branches and limbs up can bring them here. I don’t know when we will get them picked up because there is so much, but we will get them,” she added.
The dumpsters will be located on site at the district 1 yard and people can bring them between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, she said.
Dennis added, “I think the only ones out of power in my district is the Elks Club.”
On Saturday, Dennis had said, “there were a few areas still without power and where I live is one of those. My addition looks like a war zone.”
Dale school was among some of those forced to close for the week.
Dennis said the Dale area was without power the entire week.
Both Dennis and Doolen explained their commissions adopted the resolutions declaring a State of Emergency in each of the counties so if they qualified, they could be considered for financial assistance.
Wendi Marcy, Lincoln County Emergency Manager director, during the county commission meeting Monday reconfirmed Doolen’s statement on CVEC. She also advised as of Monday morning OG&E reported 538 customers in Lincoln County still without power.
Wellston Fire Chief Dennis Morris spent last Thursday clearing roads and unblocking cars for the elderly.
“We’re just trying to give back,” he said. Morris said nobody expects this kind of weather
Morris said nobody expects this kind of weather in October.
Many of the schools in the area last week decided to do virtual learning rather than shut down schools.
Statewide, OG&E was reporting Monday that power has been restored to nearly 300,000 customers.