16 Deaths in Okla. Attributed to Ice Storm, Power Outages Continue

Another traffic death in Oklahoma was attributed to a winter storm that blanketed the state in ice, while more than a half million homes and businesses remained without power Dec. 11 and schools across the state were again closed.

Sixteen deaths are now attributed to the storm, including 14 people killed in auto accidents on slick roadways, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric reported more than 276,000 outages, nearly 246,000 in the Oklahoma City metro area, while Public Service Company of Oklahoma had about 250,000 without power, approximately 220,000 of those in the Tulsa area.

The Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives said about 65,800 rural electric customers were also without power.

Utility officials said it could be a week or more before power was fully restored.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies reported it had received more than 2,100 claims from Oklahoma policyholders as of Tuesday afternoon. Customers may call Farmers’ 24 hour claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance, the company said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent 50 generators and three truck loads of bottled water from Texas to distribute to blacked-out areas.