Record-Breaking Winter Weather Puts Strain On Oklahoma Propane Suppliers

Oklahoma’s unprecedented winter weather has wreaked havoc on companies that deliver essential supplies. One propane customer who lives in rural Muskogee said he learned that lesson the hard way.

“We just want to go home to a heated house,” said Otis Logan Jr.

For the past four days, Logan and his wife have been living in a tiny motel room. Logan said that’s because they ran out of propane to heat their home last Friday. Logan said he called last Monday, hoping to get a refill before temperatures plummeted and turned his home into an icebox.

News on 6 spoke to Clint Allford, the owner of W. E. Allford Propane. The family-owned company is based out of McAlester and has supplied propane to Logan and his wife for years. Allford said this winter storm has frozen many of their trucks and equipment, making it hard to get to customers, especially ones in the county.

“This is a battle. Customers need to know this is a tough situation for all of us. They need to be patient and know we are out here working as hard as we can,” Allford told News on 6. 

Allford said this past week has been record-breaking with getting thousands of calls from customers. Allford said they also had a shortage of drivers. During winter weather, Allford advises propane customers to call weeks in advance, before their propane tanks get low.

On Tuesday, the company managed to find an extra driver to partially fill up Logan’s tank. Logan said he’s relieved.

“I’m happy. I have heat, we can get out of the motel. Maybe I’ll call two weeks in advance next time,” said Logan.