Stitt Declares Disaster Emergency After Destructive July 4 Storms

Stitt Declares Disaster Emergency After Destructive July 4 Storms

Governor Kevin Stitt has declared a disaster emergency for Cleveland and Washington counties after powerful Independence Day weekend storms left thousands without electricity, damaged homes and businesses, and scattered debris across communities in central Oklahoma. The Oklahoma disaster emergency declaration allows state agencies to quickly mobilize recovery resources while temporarily waiving certain transportation regulations so utility providers and emergency crews can restore power and clear roadways more efficiently.

The storms produced wind gusts approaching 90 miles per hour in parts of Norman and surrounding areas, toppling trees, damaging utility poles, and leaving thousands of residents without power as temperatures climbed into the triple digits.

State officials say the declaration is intended to speed recovery efforts while ensuring local communities have access to additional assistance as damage assessments continue.

Oklahoma Disaster Emergency Declaration Follows Widespread Storm Damage

The Oklahoma disaster emergency declaration comes after severe storms battered Cleveland County late Saturday night and into Sunday, causing extensive damage throughout Norman and neighboring communities.

As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, more than 8,100 OG&E customers in Cleveland County remained without electricity. At the height of the outages, more than 28,000 customers lost power as utility crews worked to repair one of the largest storm-related outages the area has experienced this summer.

OG&E officials reported crews have identified 44 downed power poles throughout Norman. Many of those poles are located in heavily damaged areas where fallen trees and debris have slowed restoration efforts. The utility company has told customers that power restoration in the hardest-hit areas could continue through late Tuesday evening.

City officials have also reported numerous damaged intersections with inoperable traffic signals, reminding motorists to treat dark intersections as four-way stops until repairs are completed. Crews continue clearing roadways while assessing damage to additional public infrastructure.

Residents can monitor restoration progress through the OG&E Outage Center and the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Outage Map.

State And Local Resources Available As Recovery Continues

Beyond speeding utility restoration, the Oklahoma disaster emergency declaration also opens additional avenues for recovery assistance.

Property owners with storm damage are encouraged to report damage through the state's official damage reporting portal. Officials say those reports help emergency managers determine whether additional state or federal disaster assistance may become available if damage thresholds are met.

Residents needing help removing fallen trees or storm debris from private property may also qualify for assistance through Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, which is partnering with state agencies during the recovery effort.

For residents who remain without electricity during the ongoing heat, cooling centers continue operating in Norman at CrossPointe Church and the 12th Avenue Recreation Center, providing relief while utility crews work to restore service.

Storm damage can be reported through the Oklahoma Damage Reporting Portal, while debris removal assistance is available through Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief or by calling (844) 690-9198.

Recovery Expected To Continue Through The Week

Emergency officials are urging residents to avoid downed power lines, use generators only outdoors, and use caution while cleaning up storm debris. Anyone requiring immediate disaster assistance or temporary shelter can contact the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or dialing 2-1-1 to locate available community resources.

While crews continue restoring power and clearing damaged roadways, officials say the Oklahoma disaster emergency declaration provides critical flexibility to accelerate recovery operations and help affected communities return to normal as quickly as possible following one of the strongest storm systems to impact central Oklahoma this summer.

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