The City of Tonkawa had a nearly 100% outage during the ice storm that began Tuesday, Oct. 27.
“Because damage was so widespread throughout Oklahoma, very few mutual aid possibilities were available,” City Manager Kirk Henderson said.
City crews worked night and day throughout the week. Coffeyville, Kan. and crews from the OMPA arrived last Thursday and Friday to help Tonkawa’s four-man electric crew.
As of Tuesday, circuits were up 100%. “Some people are waiting to get weatherheads and meter bases installed back on their homes by electricians before the city can turn them on,” Henderson said.
City officials Tuesday morning met with FEMA officials on limb removal contracts. “Limb removal will be going on for some time,” Henderson predicted.
The city manager said he appreciated citizen help during the outage by bringing food and drinks to “our workers. Also thanks to all the public that’s been hauling off limbs on their own.”
Henderson said, “For the most part, everybody was very understanding during the outage. Like a few ice storms we’ve had in the past, it’s a huge task to get everybody’s power back on safely.”
Mayor Ken Smith and Director of Emergency Services Justin Kienzle signed a proclamation Wednesday, Oct. 28, declaring the “Ice Storm Emergency of 2020” for the City of Tonkawa.
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