OKLAHOMA CITY (January 27, 2009) - A State of Emergency has been issued for all 77 Oklahoma Counties. A State of Emergency has been called in Springdale, AR. Major Richard Watts, Northwest Arkansas Area Command, reports the northwest area of Arkansas is heavily hit with ice and more is on the way. It is expected many counties in Arkansas will soon declare States of Emergency.
Currently, the Fayetteville, Arkansas canteen (mobile feeding unit) is dispatched and is feeding at the Madison County Courthouse where a shelter has been set-up. The AOK Division was hosting Officer's Council that began yesterday. As of this morning, the camp was without power and is in the area predicted to be the heaviest hit in Oklahoma. Officers are on their way back to their commands and will be reporting conditions and requests for services.
The area of Northwest Arkansas via National Weather Service news is reporting approximately 100,000 without power in Arkansas and the number is expected to grow as 1 - 3 inches of a mixture of snow/sleet and ice is predicted to fall before the end of Wednesday. Additionally, all of northern Arkansas is inundated with ice, many in areas that were beginning to recover from the tornadoes early in 2008.
Many rural areas are projected to be without power for days, if not weeks, and this will be affecting both Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Salvation Army personnel are working with State emergency management officials and other VOAD agencies to coordinate services and provide ongoing assistance to residents in both Arkansas and Oklahoma in need of ongoing aid due to current and pending weather conditions.
Monetary donations are welcome and can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at www.salvationarmyusa.org.
Updated will be provided as additional information is forthcoming.