Power still out for most of Norman



By Carol Cole-Frowe

Transcript Staff

Massive downed tree limbs blocked streets throughout Cleveland County and knocked out power to about half of Norman for most of Monday.

At about 4 p.m., there were about 27,000 OG&E; customers without power in Norman; Moore, 11,641; and Noble, 1,609 customers. About 4,500 customers of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative were without power.

Rick Bacon at the Norman Emergency Operations Center urged residents to avoid driving over downed power lines or picking up branches around power lines, as many still had power even in areas that were otherwise without power.

The Norman Fire Department responded to several fires caused by downed power lines igniting fallen tree limbs, Bacon said. They were answering about one call per minute for various reasons for much of the day.

“Do not drive into power lines. And don’t walk up to them. They will jump. They will arc,” Bacon said. “If you see them, just get away from them.”

Sanitation, line maintenance, parks and street department crews were out working all day to clear streets of tree debris. They also monitored the bridges and overpasses for icing.

City crews planned to stop moving tree and storm debris at dusk to avoid being injured by the power lines, he said.

“The main goals is to keep the snow routes open,” he said.

Cleveland County Commissioners met early Tuesday and decided to keep the courthouse closed. The building still had no power at mid-morning.

There were no major accidents or injuries reported by the Norman Police Department at 4 p.m. Bacon credited motorists for driving slowly and cautiously and for staying home and off the streets.

Norman Regional Hospital spokeswoman Brenda Finkle said the emergency department had mostly been seeing people with contusions and broken bones.

The two Norman Regional Urgent Care Centers continue to be open until 9 p.m. for minor emergencies at the Healthplex at 36th Avenue NW and Tecumseh Road and 800 24th Avenue NW.

Holiday Heights Nursing Home of Norman was forced to evacuate 27 residents to Senior Village in Blanchard, Bacon said. EMSStat and McClain County EMS transported the residents.

Fire crews were kept busy throughout the morning responding to downed utility lines.

City Hall was on emergency power.

The Heartland Red Cross was forced to shut down their shelter after losing power. Churches were being sought to use as shelters.

City officials said their priority is opening streets. County street crews from Districts 1 and 3 were assisting.

Nine OG&E; circuits were down in Norman, with its Web site also down.

City staff members urged residents to not block fire hydrants with storm or tree debris.

Cleveland County’s Election Board was planning to continue with Tuesday’s Norman School Bond Election. Provisions were made to vote without electricity, officials said.

The Norman Water Treatment Plant on East Robinson Street was without power and the City is buying 9.4 million gallons of water daily from the City of Oklahoma City, lower than the 11 to 12 million gallons daily used at this time of year. Norman officials were urging water conservation.

Commissioners called an emergency meeting late Monday morning and closed the Cleveland County Courthouse after power failed there. They plan to meet at 6 a.m. Tuesday to determine whether to reopen the building. Much of downtown Norman was without power. The Transcript lost power about 10 a.m.

Schools throughout Cleveland and McClain counties were closed Monday, along with the University of Oklahoma. OU officials said they will post a notice on their Website about the finals schedule. Examinations were to have started today.