Local Storms Tax Emergency Responders

MULTIPLE WARNINGS, POWER OUTAGES AND FLOODING HAS BEEN GRIPPING THE PONCA CITY AND KAY COUNTY AREA FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS HAVE BEEN BUSY THROUGH THE NIGHT, RESPONDING TO ALARM CALLS RELATED TO THE POWER OUTAGES, WHICH AFFECTED THOUSANDS UNTIL VERY RECENTLY.

THE ALARM CALLS WERE NOT ONLY NEEDED WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT, BUT AS THE POWER CAME ON IN AREAS, THE CALLS CAME RIGHT BACK. FIRE ALARMS ALSO TRIGGERED MANDATORY RESPONSES FROM DEPARTMENT TRUCKS AND PERSONNEL.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE TORNADO SOUTH OF PONCA CITY.

POLICE OFFICIALS SAY CALLS STARTED COMING ABOUT 1:19 THIS MORNING, WHEN THE FIRST POWER DROPS OCCURRED. A LOT OF THE CALLS WERE TAKEN DUE TO THE ELECTRIC COMPANY AFTER-HOURS NUMBER NOT BEING AVAILABLE.

FLOODING ON COUNTY AND SOME CITY ROADS IS WIDE-SPREAD, TAKEN FROM REPORTS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

NORTH OF HIGHWAY 11 ON US 77, NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED FOR A PERIOD DUE TO A TRUCK THAT HAD PARTIALLY RUN OFF THE ROAD.

TAKE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING ON FLOODED AREAS. HYDROPLANING SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN AS YOU TAKE YOUR MORNING COMMUTES.

(UPDATE) Due to inclement weather, flooding at NOC Tonkawa, all 8 a.m. ITV classes are cancelled and the NOC Tonkawa campus will open at 9 a.m. and NOC Tonkawa classes will begin at 9 a.m., today, Oct. 6, 2016.

AND AS A REMINDER, UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY IN THESE SITUATIONS, PLEASE UTILIZE THE LOCAL NUMBERS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE. THIS WILL KEEP THE 911 SERVICE OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.

WE’LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.