Kay County declared as State of Emergency by Governor Stitt

by Jordan Green

Kay County has been named one of 66 Oklahoma counties impacted by widespread flooding in early May under an amended State of Emergency declaration made by Governor Kevin Stitt.

On Friday, May 8, Stitt expanded his existing order to add Alfalfa, Beckham, Caddo, Custer, Dewey, Greer, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Jackson, Noble, Roger Mills, Washita, and Woods counties to his original emergency declaration. That order was made May 1, and it included the following counties: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, and Washington.

“As severe weather has continued to impact the state, these counties have experienced flooding, severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds during. Damage assessments are ongoing and, in some areas, cannot be completed until floodwater recedes,” Stitt said in a press release.

By declaring a State of Emergency, the governor authorizes state agencies to make emergency purchases in order to help citizens and local government agencies respond to flood damage. The declaration also paves the way for the state to seek any federal assistance that is needed in recovery efforts.