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February 26, 2013

Woodward weather fatality identified

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID, Okla. — A 71-year-old Woodward man, who was killed Monday when his driveway awning fell on him due to snowfall, has been identified as Curtis Haines.

Haines was killed in the 3600 block of 22nd Street in Woodward, said Amy Elliott, Chief Administrative Officer of the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Woodward is still digging out from the snow that struck there Monday, said Emergency Management Director Matt Lehenbauer.

“We still have about 1500 homes and businesses out of power. The electric utility companies are having trouble getting trucks out there because of the snow. We’ve been working with them,” Lehenbauer said.

All of the known stranded motorists were rescued Monday night with the assistance of a snow rescue team from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Lehenbauer said it is still “a pretty rotten problem,” dealing with it. Snowplows are becoming stuck in the snow, and only bulldozers can penetrate the snow-packed roads, he said.

“It will be a fight to get one lane open today, I expect,” Lehenbauer said.

There have been no further injuries, although a number of slips and falls have been reported. The official death count for the storm is two, with one in Woodward and a second one in Kansas, he said.

The American Red Cross has established a shelter in the Pioneer Room, in the 1200 block of 9th Street in Woodward, but he said many people cannot use it because they can’t reach it.

“It’s mostly used by travelers, but the Red Cross will try to assist people if they can,” Lehenbauer said.

There are still many places that cannot be reached in the county and in the city limits of Woodward. In the rural areas, there are some drifts and County Commissioner Vernie Matt reported one road grader was stuck in snow as high as the bottom of the window.

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