What are the Fire Conditions?

Please be aware of Fire Weather conditions.

Relative Humidity from Oklahoma MesoNet

Oklahoma Burn Ban Information

Oklahoma Earthquakes

FEMA ENCOURAGES AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN MORE THAN ONE MILLION IN PUBLIC EARTHQUAKE DRILL

Nine states across the central U.S. will participate in The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m. CST.  This second annual central U.S. ShakeOut is a public earthquake drill organized and coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners.  FEMA is encouraging everyone across the central United States to participate in the event, including schools, businesses, governments and other organizations.

“Everyone has a role in disaster preparedness, and drills like this one offer a valuable opportunity for all levels of government, non-profit and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and the public to put their preparedness plans into action,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  “Participating in this drill, putting together a disaster preparedness plan and building a kit are simple steps that everyone can take.”

You only have seconds to react to an earthquake, so it’s important to know what to do when the grounds starts shaking.  On Feb. 7, you can practice the following:

• DROP to the ground,

• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

The drill will start at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, when the National Weather Service sends a tone-alert to the NOAA Weather Radio, and the radio will tell those listening to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” 

Devastating earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile, are powerful evidence of how destructive natural disasters can be, and that they can strike without any warning.  Scientists estimate the probability of a magnitude 6.0 or larger earthquake occurring along the New Madrid Seismic Zone within any 50 year period is 25-40 percent.  It is as important as ever to strengthen our nation’s disaster resilience across the country, and the ShakeOut is a great opportunity to do so.

Anyone who has not already joined us, is encouraged to register for the ShakeOut at www.shakeout.org/centralus.  The ShakeOut is free, open to the general public, and anyone can get more information or register to participate by visiting www.shakeout.org/centralus. 

For more information on earthquake preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.

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2011 Tornado Deaths

With 2011 gone and 2012 before us, please take some time to review what happened across the USA this year in tornado deaths.

Can we say that Oklahoma faired better than the rest of the States with only 14 tornado deaths?  Texas and New Mexico recorded NO tornado deaths.

2011 closed out the books as the second deadliest year on record.  How will 2012 fair?

It will fair much better if residents will take the time now to plan.  How will you get a tornado warning?  Weather radio still remains a good option.  Cell phone and pager alerts are becoming more popular.

Residents will fair better if they have a plan.  Where will you go for severe weather?  Does your school have a plan?  What about your day care home or center?  Does your work have a plan?

Residents will fair better if they have a kit to support the plan.  How will you communicate with your loved ones that you are safe?  If you have to evacuate, where will you go?  Do you have your numbers for your insurance company?

Please plan now what you will do before tornado season 2012 starts.  WHAT?  There's not a month that there has not had a tornado in Altus?  Plan now then.