Panhandle Ranchers Struggle in Aftermath of Blizzard
By John Dobberstein, Tulsa World, Okla.
Jan. 4–Last week’s blizzard in the Panhandle is causing despair for cattle ranchers, as state officials extended state-of-emergency orders this week to two more counties.
The storm dumped 3 to 4 feet of snow on the Panhandle, knocking out power to thousands of people and stranding cattle on farms and pastures.
State-of-emergency orders have been issued for Texas, Cimarron and Beaver counties.
Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach flew to the region Wednesday to oversee response efforts for ranchers. An incident command team from his department was dispatched to plan a hay drop by helicopter for stranded cattle.
An estimated 380,000 head of cattle are present in Cimarron and Texas counties.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Army National Guard are involved in relief efforts.
Since Monday, National Guard personnel have been checking on residents who were without power.
“Many people in both the public and private sectors have been working tirelessly and around the clock to help the Panhandle recover,” Gov. Brad Henry said in a statement. “There is more work to be done, but I am grateful for the substantial progress that has been made.”
Conditions are very bad in Cimarron County, said Ron Hays, director of farm programming for the Oklahoma Radio Network. Hays shared an interview with Jane Apple, wife of rancher Bobbie Apple, who lives about three miles east of Kenton.
She said about 3 feet of snow fell on their property, with drifts much deeper. The Apples have 900 cattle and have seen only a few of them since Friday, Hays said.
“They do have electricity restored, as well as phone service, which is a blessing. But they are very concerned about their animals and hoping for help soon,” Hays said Wednesday in his daily e-mail to the agriculture community.
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association has established a relief fund to assist ranchers hit hard by the storm. Contributions can be made to Panhandle Ranch Rescue Effort, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, 2500 Exchange Ave., Oklahoma City, 73108.
Michelann Ooten, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Emergency Management, said 2,500 homes remained without power Wednesday. Most of them were in western Texas County and eastern Cimarron County.
More than 700 power poles were snapped when they were covered by ice and buffeted by winds topping 55 mph, said Roy Smothermon, a spokesman for Tri-County Electric Cooperative. At the height of the storm, more than 20,000 customers lost power.
Ooten said emergency teams completed sweeps Tuesday of the Kenton and Wheeless areas.
They contacted about two dozen stranded families. One female cancer patient was taken to a hospital in Boise City. They also got medication to a man with diabetes.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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