Senator Corn Wants Emergency Evacuation Plans Reviewed

In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, State Senator Kenneth Corn said he will ask Oklahoma’s Civil Emergency Management to examine emergency evacuation plans for population centers around the state to ensure that Oklahomans will not be left behind should a disaster occur in this state.

“We have to ensure that what happened to the people of the gulf coast region doesn’t happen to Oklahoma families,” Corn, (D-Poteau) said. “That begins with reviewing emergency evacuation plans of all the major cities in Oklahoma as well as other smaller towns that could be at risk of a terrorist attack or natural disaster.”

Corn said if the agency finds that Oklahoma cities and towns do not currently have emergency evacuation plans he is prepared to author legislation that will require those plans to be developed and submitted to the Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency.

“Right now I am researching what communities in Oklahoma already have emergency evacuation plans in place and what cities do not,” Corn said. “For those communities who do not have these plans in place already, I will strongly encourage them to do so as soon as possible.”

Corn said he will be looking at towns like Ponca City and Ardmore-both of which have refineries and could be a potential target for terrorist attacks. He also wants to study closely, emergency evacuation plans in Oklahoma towns that house military installations such as Oklahoma City, Enid, Lawton, Altus and McAlester.

“Over the last four years our country has been brought to its knees by both terrorist attacks and natural disasters,” Corn said. “Oklahomans know all to well about both those subjects. I am confident that through cooperation with local and state officials we can ensure that no Oklahoman will be left behind should a tragedy strike on Oklahoma soil.”