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(Click on the link for additional information)
You can now register your Woodward County storm shelter online. Click on "Shelter
Registration" on the toolbar to the left and complete the form. (Posted 01-06-06)
StormReady Presentation for Woodward County
Woodward County has been certified as StormReady by the National Weather Service. The
Certification was presented at the Woodward County Commission Meeting on October 30th,
2006, at 10:00 a.m. at the Woodward County Commission Room, 1600 Main St., Woodward.
(Posted 10-24-06)
Woodward City/County Emergency Management Commemorates 50th
Anniversary in 2007
On April 1st, 1957, the "Woodward Civil Defense" was formed by Woodward City Ordinance No.
465, establishing a civil defense organization for the City of Woodward, appointing a Civil
Defense Advisory Committee and a Director of Civil Defense, by Mayor F.C. Stark. The Civil
Defense Director's position was prohibited by ordinance from drawing a salary until Ordinance
No. 563 was passed on November 6th, 1961. On February 5th, 1962, the City of Woodward
and Woodward County signed an agreement to combine their two Civil Defense Agencies into
one unified agency.
Through the early 1990's, Civil Defense had primary responsiblity of nuclear war prearedness.
Civil Defense later changed its name to "Emergency Management", with the end of the cold war
era. In modern times, Emergency Management is charged with preparing and responding to
both man-made and natural disasters, and other homeland security issues.
April 9th, 2007 is the 60th anniversary of the Woodward Tornado. The tornado devastated our
community at 8:42 p.m. on April 9th, 1947, without warning. 100 city blocks were leveled, with
107 dead and over 1,000 injuries. More than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed.
The tornado was rated as an F-5, and was 1.8 miles wide, moving north-east at 50 miles per
hour. The tornado was on the ground for 220 miles, and travelled across three states. This
event still holds the Oklahoma record for the most deadly tornado in history, and was one of the
primary reasons for the implementation of tornado watches and warnings issued by the National
Weather Service. Do tornadoes ever strike twice in the same place? The Moore tornadoes of
1999 and 2003 showed that this is possible. These are the reasons that Woodward City/County
Emergency Management takes severe weather so seriously, and works tirelessly in preparing
for and tracking severe weather in north-west Oklahoma. (Posted 11-06-06)
Public events will be held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Centennial in Woodward County in
remembrance of the Woodward Tornado and the establishment of Emergency Management
throughout 2007.
Woodward City/Co. E.M. Vehicle Receives Award at National Storm Chaser Car Show
The Woodward City/Co. Emergency Management Vehicle placed at the top in the National
Storm Chaser Car Show at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday,
November 4th. The Car Show was part of the National Weather Festival held that day. The
vehicle will be on display at the annual Storm Spotter Training Course to be held Thursday,
Feb. 1st, 2006, at the High Plains Tech Center in Woodward, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(posted 11-06-06)