By Ian Nikkel, FOX23.com News Staff
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Okla. — Severe storms that swept through Washington County Saturday night cut Fourth of July celebrations short, leaving widespread damage and thousands of residents without power.
According to Washington County Emergency Management, as many as 10,000 customers were without electricity Sunday morning after strong winds brought down trees and power lines across the county.
Officials said damage stretched from Oglesby north to Copan, including the east side and northwest side of Bartlesville.
Emergency management crews spent the night surveying the damage while utility workers worked around the clock to restore power.
“The damage is pretty widespread from Oglesby all the way north to Copan, the east side of Bartlesville, and then the far northwest side of Bartlesville also seems to be pretty hard hit,” said Melissa Mayes, deputy director and public information officer for Washington County Emergency Management. “What you’re seeing here at Sooner Park is pretty much what you’re seeing all over the town right now and across the north part of the county.”
The storm also damaged areas around Sooner Park, where Bartlesville’s annual Freedom Fest celebration had been taking place.
Mayes said organizers were able to safely evacuate everyone before the storm moved through.
Power restoration is expected to take time because of the extent of the damage.
Mayes said utility crews from PSO, Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative, and other providers are working continuously to restore electricity, but she asked residents to remain patient.
Emergency officials also urged residents to check on elderly neighbors and anyone who may be vulnerable to the extreme heat while power outages continue.
To help residents stay safe, Washington County and the City of Bartlesville have opened cooling shelters, including locations at the Washington County Fairgrounds and the Bartlesville Public Library. Information on additional cooling centers and operating hours is available on the FOX23 website and app.
Officials are also asking homeowners and business owners to report storm damage to help the state assess the overall impact.
Storm damage can be reported through the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management at damage.ok.gov.
For those who may need a cooling station, the Washington County Fairgrounds in Dewey will be open. Victory Church, located at 4601 Nowata Road, will be operating as a cooling station as well.
Other cooling stations include the Bartlesville Library, which will be open until 8 p.m. on Sunday, and B the Light (219 N Virginia), which opened at 12 p.m.
