Staff reports
Enid and area residents were still surveying damage Tuesday morning from a wind storm that whipped through the area Monday evening leaving snapped trees, power poles and signs in its wake and leaving about 9,000 area residents without power.
City of Enid officials are requesting all city water users, including industrial, commercial and residential, to reduce water usage to a minimum due to power outages in the Drummond and Ames water well fields. Reserve water is on hand for fire and emergency services, but reduced water usage is necessary to maintain a safe reserve.
OG&E spokesman John Little said 17 extra crews are coming into the area today to help restore power and repair and replace downed power poles. The storm took down about 35 poles that feed Drummond, Ames and Waukomis.
Nearly 3,000 OG&E customers in north and west Enid were still without power around 9 a.m. In Waukomis, more than 1,500 were still without power. Fairmont and Billings still had major power outages.
“The single biggest concentration of Enid customers out of power is north of Willow and west of Van Buren,” Little said. “That’s a big section out and stretches up to Golden Oaks and the north-northwest quadrant.”
Little said he can’t give an estimate at this point on when power will be restored, but will know more this afternoon once the added crews are up and working.
The City of Enid is taking immediate action and City crews are working to clear highly trafficked areas first. Crews will then move to the local streets for tree removal and debris pickup.
Residents who require assistance with debris removal and pickup, are instructed to call 580-616-7300 for service. All debris and brush must be placed on the curb away from power lines, mailboxes and other obstructions to allow for safe pickup.
The severe thunderstorm that caused the damage came in about 6 p.m. and included wind gusts from 70 to 96 miles per hour. Other than power lines and trees, other damage reports included blown roofs and sheds, plus semi tractor-trailers and cars were blown over on I-35. The storm also caused the cancellation of the city junior golf tournament due to tree damage at both Oakwood Country Club and Meadowlake Golf Course.
The storms did bring some much-needed rain to the area. Oklahoma Mesonet shows the Enid area received just under an inch of rain.
Check back with Enidnews.com for updates on when power will be restored.
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