Oklahoma Prepares For Another Winter Blast

Thursday, January 18th 2007, 2:17 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- As Oklahomans brace for another major winter storm expected to arrive late Friday, Gov. Brad Henry has starting pushing for federal help for thousands of people who still remain without power a week after a devastating ice storm.

"Unfortunately, the worst may not be over," Henry said, noting that National Weather Service forecasters are predicting the impending storm could bring a half-foot or more of snow, as well as freezing rain and sleet, to large portions of Oklahoma this weekend.

The weather service has issued winter storm watches or warnings for most counties in Oklahoma.

"The days ahead will be challenging, but we will get through them by working together," Henry said.

The number of Oklahomans without power continues to drop, but the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said late Thursday that 57,579 electric customers still remained without service.

The highest number of such customers is in McAlester, where 9,784 are without power. In Muskogee, 5,468 customers still hadn't had electric service restored Friday, a week after the three-day ice storm began.

Henry on Thursday requested a major federal disaster declaration, which would make people in hard-hit counties eligible for housing grants and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. He had already declared a state of emergency.

"The ice storm has devastated a number of communities, and the people are going to need all the help they can get to rebuild their lives," Henry said Thursday, one day after touring storm-damaged McAlester, Eufaula and Muskogee.

He said he would work with members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation to ensure the request is considered promptly by the White House.

"I don't think there is any question that the damage estimates will show Oklahoma deserves such a declaration," Henry said.

The ice, which snapped hundreds of power poles and transmission lines, has been blamed for 23 deaths, mostly from motor-vehicle accidents.

Mike Mackey, 47, who has been staying in an American Red Cross shelter in Muskogee with his wife and son said the crushing weight of ice broke trees throughout his neighborhood.

"It looks like Godzilla came through there and just stomped them all down," he said.

Erik Parrott, 28, a house framer, was going door-to-door with a chain saw, helping friends cut fallen trees and branches. He has gas heaters to take the chill off his house, but no hot water, so he has had to go elsewhere to shower.

"I've been going to my ex-wife's unfortunately," he said.

Medical authorities treated scores of people who were injured when they fell on ice.

Temperatures warmed into the high 30s or low 40s in some parts of the state Thursday, allowing some of the ice to melt, but even that development wasn't completely positive, as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said ice falling off cars had become a hazard.

"We have had numerous accidents involving sheets of ice blowing from the tops of cars and causing damage to the vehicles behind them," OHP Lt. Pete Norwood said. Motorists were told to clear ice off cars before traveling.

Many schools have been closed all week. State education officials said the requirement that students have 175 days of instruction per year would not be waived, meaning snow days would have to be made up later.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency brought 100 generators to Oklahoma, with most being used to provide temporary power to shelters and hospitals. FEMA has also provided truckloads of drinking water.

The American Red Cross said more than 1,000 people were using shelters it had set up throughout eastern Oklahoma.

Relief workers at the Muskogee County Fairgrounds were preparing 2,600 meals Thursday for relief workers and people displaced because of the storm.

Many people without electrical service have sought housing with friends, family members or hotels, while others have elected to ride it out.

Karen and Boyd Neisler, each 63, were getting by along with their three pug dogs in a home powered by a portable generator they bought Tuesday, three days after losing electrical service. They've been playing a lot of Scrabble and dominoes, sometimes by candle light.

"You might think that's romantic, but it's not," she said.

Three young people were going door-to-door in Muskogee, offering to cut and haul broken trees, for $200 per home. They've done eight homes since the storm began.

"It's better than school because we're making lots of money," Cory Watson, 17, said.

Hundreds of utility workers were working to repair snapped power lines. Many did not know how long it would take to get the job done.

"They're afraid to tell us because we'll mutiny," said Tommy Binz, a supervisor with Arkansas-based West Tree Service. "Our motel room is rented for four more days."