Environment

Blizzards Hit Midwest: Oklahoma State of Emergency

by Jordan Yerman | December 25, 2009 at 08:09 am

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A state of emergency was declared in Olkahoma due to blizzards and freezing weather. Highways are shut down because of all of the car accidents taking place. 18 people have been killed so far, including three who were hit by cars when they abandoned their own vehicles along the side of the road. (US highway map with travel advisories)

The winds are driving snow into drifts up to ten feed high, making it impossible to keep the roadways clear.

People should stay put and not travel in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, western Iowa and western Missouri. I-29 is closed in eastern North Dakota from the Canadian to the South Dakota border.

"The storm is spanning two thirds of the country," said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service.

Oklahoma saw a record snowfall of 14 inches, as locals are all too aware. It's the first white Christmas in 40 years, but has made up for lost time.

The storm knocked out power to more than 10,000 homes and businesses in the state, officials said.

The capital, Oklahoma City was hit by 14in (35cm) of snow by Thursday night, eclipsing the record of 2.5in set in 1914.