Governor Mary Fallin To Tour Oklahoma Tornado Damage

News9.com

OKALAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin has taken to the air to see damage in several central Oklahoma communities hard hit by Tuesday evening's tornadoes and storms.

The aerial tour is covering a number of hard hit communities like Guthrie, Piedmont, Cashion and Goldsby.

After the aerial tour, the governor will view damages on the ground in Chickasha and the community of Friend where a number of homes and businesses were damaged and destroyed.

See full coverage of Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak

The governor also released the following statement Tuesday regarding the storms in Oklahoma:

"It is obvious the State of Oklahoma has experienced a large tornado outbreak today. I am in constant contact with our State Emergency Operations Center and I know local authorities are doing everything they can to respond to the storm and keep our citizens safe. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those already affected by these storms. 

Tornado Damage Clean Up

"Unfortunately, this event will likely continue for some time. I am asking all Oklahomans to stay aware of the weather and to take proper precautions to keep themselves out of harm's way."

Governor Fallin also declared a State of Emergency for 68 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms, straight line winds and flooding that began Tuesday.

The counties included in the declaration are: Adair, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Dewey, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Haskell, Hughes, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, Tillman, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, Washita, Woods and Woodward.

The declaration also marks a first step toward seeking federal assistance should it be necessary.

Related Story:
5/24/2011 Governor Fallin Declares State Of Emergency For 14 Counties