For Immediate Release:
September 16, 2005
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.”