The weather here in Oklahoma, especially in March, is sometimes very unpredictable. It can be skin-scorching hot one day, tornado warnings the next and sleet after that. Living on the Choctaw Nation requires our Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management (OEM) team to be ready for anything thrown their way.
Just this past January, we recorded in some areas of the reservation, nearly a foot of snow. The OEM team gave instructions on what to do in the cold temperatures and how to prepare your home for a temperature drop. Our team here works tirelessly to ensure our tribal members and associates are up to date on all the latest weather patterns and dangerous conditions that could affect their wellbeing.
The Nation takes great pride in offering this service to our tribal members and associates. The Choctaw Nation provides emergency texts to its tribal members and associates in the event of severe weather or closings related to the weather. You can access that information as a tribal member through the Chahta Achvffa Portal.
We also have an up-to-date alert system on social media, and you can access from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Emergency Management Facebook page and get weather warning updates, forecasts and tips to ensure your safety during inclement weather.
The Nation also helps its tribal members in the form of support programs that assist eligible tribal members in acquiring storm shelters and/or being a participant in wind abatement programs that can secure your home in windy and severe conditions. The Choctaw Nation provides a storm shelter grant to eligible Choctaw tribal members who live in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. The Nation also provides a voucher for wind mitigating projects to tribal members within the Choctaw Nation service area. More storm resources can be found at choctawnation.com.
As our emergency services team will tell you the best defense to extreme weather is to have a plan in place for your wellbeing should severe conditions hit. For instance:
- When thunder roars, go indoors! Move from outdoors into a building or car with a roof.
- Pay attention to alerts and warnings.
- Avoid using electronic devices connected to an electrical outlet.
- Avoid running water.
- Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Do not drive through flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Stay Safe After Thunderstorms & Lightning
- Pay attention to authorities and weather forecasts for information on whether it is safe to go outside and instructions regarding potential flash flooding.
- Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
Tornadoes
If you are under a tornado or severe weather warning:
- Go to NOAA Weather Radio and your local news or official social media accounts for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of state, local and tribal officials.
- Go to a safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or a small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Also have a plan in place for your pets when severe weather occurs.
- Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
- Do not go under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
- Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
- Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
- If you can’t stay at home, make plans to go to a public shelter.
While severe weather is unpredictable, by following these tips provided by our OEM team it could help save your life or the life of someone you love just by being prepared and having a good emergency plan. The Choctaw Nation is here to help you in the event of severe weather conditions. Yakoke to our OEM team for all they do to help us be prepared in the challenging weather conditions that arrive each spring on the Reservation.