0430L-WEDNESDAY OUTLOOK & INFO FROM GARFIELD COUNTY EMERGENCY MGMT-4/1/2020

1- Increasing clouds will occur today along with strong southerly winds as a surface trough closes in on the region. Showers and thunderstorms are possible late tonight, most likely after midnight, so expect a partial light show if thunderstorms occur.

2- The above said, here is your forecast from the NWS/NORMAN;

Today-Increasing clouds with highs in the lower 70s. South winds 10-20 mph gusting to 28 mph.

Tonight-Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid-50s. South winds 15 to 20 mph.

DIRECTORS COMMENT:

As we roll into the second month of the COVID-19 virus Pandemic, there are a few questions I would like to resolve. Many folks continue to ask for details on positive cases. You will NOT have any details on their situation unless they provide that after the fact. Otherwise, it’s a HIPPA violation. TESTING KITS- I have no idea how many we have. If you meet the criteria by your primary care physician, they will send you to the hospital to be tested. Only those who meet those criteria will be tested. All I know is more testing kits are coming. This is a HEALTH EMERGENCY and we don’t receive a lot of that info. If we are told specific information, I will pass that along with permission. WE deal with facts, not speculation.

Will testing be done here as it has in Ponca City and today at Woodward? We are looking into that possibility. You still need to meet the criteria established by Health Officials. We don’t control that. If and when testing occurs here, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED but there are procedures that need to be followed. We’ll publish this along with our media partners.

Finally, this is new to all of us and we are working hard to make the system better. It takes time. After this is over, we’ll all be better prepared.

HAVE A GOOD DAY

MIKE