The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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December 25, 2009

Garfield County not as affected as rest of state; more precip is possible

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

The Enid area received more than 21⁄2 inches of snow Thursday as a winter blizzard brought the entire state to a standstill.

“It may have been more, but the wind was blowing so hard it was hard to discern,” said Mike Honigsberg, Enid emergency management director.

Honigsberg said there was quite a bit of drifting in town but not bad enough to close any streets. No roads were closed due to snow in Garfield County.

Another storm system will pass through the area Tuesday or Wednesday, but the amount of moisture it will produce is unknown yet, he said.

Area temperatures will average freezing for the next several days, although the wind should continue to drop in the next three to four days.

All 77 counties in Oklahoma remain under a state of emergency, as declared by Gov. Brad Henry Thursday.

The governor — along with state emergency management, public safety and transportation officials — continues to discourage all travel despite road openings and clearings.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported six fatalities, which were attributed to the winter storm. All six died Thursday in weather-related wrecks. Numerous injuries have been reported, including 81 wrecks worked by OHP and more than 100 medical assist calls made by EMSA.

Additionally, the Oklahoma state Department of Health reported 482 injuries related to the winter storm. Most were for broken bones, slips and falls and heart attacks. Some required treatment at hospitals, while others were treated at the scene, according to Michaelann Ooten, spokeswoman for Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Enid Police Sgt. Billy Varney said there were no more accidents Thursday than normal, and he was unaware of any injuries. Friday also was a quiet day, he said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated four accidents west of Enid on U.S. 412 Friday, but there were no injuries reported.

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