State storm damage reports this week may double

GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) _ Reports of damage from severe weather earlier this week could double in the coming days, officials here said. <br/><br/>Storms packing winds approaching 90 mph and heavy rain damaged

Friday, August 13th 2004, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) _ Reports of damage from severe weather earlier this week could double in the coming days, officials here said.

Storms packing winds approaching 90 mph and heavy rain damaged buildings and trees and left thousands without power early Wednesday.

Guthrie officials are trying to determine how much money they can spend to clean up the damage, City Manager Glenn Hayes said Thursday.

``We will be contracting out the remainder of the cleanup rather than have our guys doing it,'' Hayes said. ``Right now we're struggling with a ceiling on how much we can afford to spend if we don't get FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursement.''

Hayes said the city could contract for some of the work and use city crews to finish if federal money is not available.

About 800 Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. customers remained without power late Thursday, officials said.

There also were reports of damage at a Wal-Mart, Guthrie Regional Airport and Guthrie High School.