Emergency Declared in Oklahoma After Severe Storms

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency for 35 Oklahoma counties following three days of severe storms, strong winds, tornadoes and flooding.

The executive order signed Friday allows state agencies to make emergency purchases for disaster relief and preparedness. It’s also the first step toward possibly seeking federal aid. The state of emergency will last for 30 days.

A separate order suspends size and weights requirements for emergency vehicles.

Severe storms beginning July 13 damaged homes business and vehicles in central and eastern Oklahoma.

Counties included in Fallin’s order are Adair, Beckham, Caddo, Canadian, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Garfield, Grady, Grant, Haskell, Kay, Kingfisher, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, Mayes, McCurtain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington.