City of Perkins update on OG&E efforts; departmental emergency response efforts; and clean-up plans. Reminder: DO NOT WALK, DRIVE, OR OTHERWISE CROSS OVER DOWNED POWER LINES! Please click the link for more details.
OG&E crews are in the city, assessing damage, and establishing where and when power may be safely restored to areas of town. This is a difficult process, as each individual situation must be evaluated before restoring power.
City staff has been busy receiving information from the public, documenting outage areas, and reporting to OG&E. Public works, fire, police, and emergency management have been checking areas all over the city, to determine the extent of damage. While doing so, they have been clearing debris from the roadways. At this time, most roadways are passable, so that emergency crews may respond as needed.
We are conducting planning meetings to address the major task ahead of us regarding debris removal. We are working on establishing pick up procedures, and debris site management. The Department of Environmental Quality is working with us on getting a permit for debris management.
The city commission held an emergency meeting, and has approved emergency funds for contracting assistance in debris removal, including rental of needed equipment, as we transition from response to recovery mode.
As you remove debris from your yard, place it curbside, clear of streets. As you drag or move brush, be aware of gas meters, and other infrastructure. Be aware, that every effort has been made to ensure live power lines that are low hanging, or on the ground have had power cut to them; however, there may be some that we are not aware of, and some others may have occurred since the last survey.
DO NOT WALK, DRIVE, OR OTHERWISE CROSS OVER DOWNED POWER LINES!
Please check on your neighbors and the elderly.