600,000 masks given to Oklahoma schools by anonymous donor

More than 600,000 masks going to Oklahoma schools, thanks to anonymous donor

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 8, 2021) – Thanks to an anonymous donor, every public school in Oklahoma will receive four KN95 masks for every teacher and school staffer. These shipments come at a time when the vast majority of school districts are having in-person learning amid a statewide drop in COVID-19 cases.

“Masks are important in our arsenal of successful COVID-19 mitigation strategies,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “We are extremely grateful to this donor for prioritizing our hard-working school personnel who have been on the frontlines of this pandemic.”

Feds approve Oklahoma's application for additional unemployment program, $300 per week for claimants

GOVERNOR STITT ANNOUNCES FEDERAL APPROVAL OF STATE'S LWA APPLICATION 

Unemployed Oklahomans to receive additional $300 per week under approved program 

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 19, 2020)-- Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the State's application to provide unemployed Oklahomans with an additional $300 per week in benefits under the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. 

"I am thankful for the teams at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management for working effectively with FEMA to ensure our application quickly received a stamp of approval," said Gov. Stitt. "I look forward to working with OESC to make sure the additional $300 in weekly benefits are distributed efficiently and on target to help Oklahomans as they continue working to find secure employment."

OK to receive Decontamination System for N95 Masks, processing in Muskogee

Oklahoma to Receive Decontamination System for N95 Masks

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 22, 2020) – Hospitals, health care workers, and first responders in Oklahoma will soon have the option of recycling their N95 masks with the state receiving a new decontamination system developed by Battelle, a global research and development organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

The Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System is a self-contained, mobile system that uses high concentration, vapor phase hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate N95 masks.

Oklahoma will not incur a cost for the new service. Battelle was awarded a contract by the Defense Logistics Agency on behalf of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide N95 decontamination at no charge to health care providers.

“My first priority has always been to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “This system will help us continue to protect our health care workers and first responders as we stay proactive in our fight against COVID-19. Oklahoma is better when we work together.”

“This system is a way to ensure an uninterrupted supply of critical PPE is available to health care workers and first responders in our state for the long-term,” Interim Health Commissioner Lance Frye said. “Oklahoma’s stockpile of PPE is in good shape now and through proactive partnerships like this we can add an extra layer of insurance that it will remain that way.”

Stitt announces new Director of Emergency Management

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

Oklahoma City, Okla. (January 29, 2019) – Governor Kevin Stitt announced [yesterday] the hiring of Mark Gower as the Director of the Department of Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM).

“Mark Gower has been dedicated to the safety and security of Oklahomans his entire career,” said Gov. Stitt. “His expertise is well suited to guide the Department of Emergency Management, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to move our state forward.”

“I am deeply honored by Governor Stitt’s faith in me to serve our citizens," said Gower. "I am excited to join him and our dedicated emergency management professionals across Oklahoma. I will work tirelessly alongside our governor to build trust, efficiency, and accountability through working to provide quality, customer-focused services to our citizens, cities, towns, and counties statewide."

Mark Gower currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and CyberCommand Director for the State of Oklahoma. With over 20-years of experience in Information Security and Technology, Gower has a broad and varied knowledge base to draw upon. His expertise includes Cybersecurity, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. Gower holds multiple certifications, including Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Business Continuity Planner (CBCP), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

"Emergency Management in Oklahoma has always been a significant part of the phrase ‘the Oklahoma Standard’ and Mr. Gower brings a very specific skill set that will help us advance and improve Emergency Management in our state. I have worked with Mark in the past and look forward to working with him again in his new position as OEM Director," said Kary D. Cox, Director at Washington County Emergency Management.

"I've known and worked in the public sector with Mark for many years, and I have the highest respect for him. He has all the skills to do a great job for Oklahoma as the Director of Oklahoma Emergency Management. Mark is a man of integrity with a servants heart, a rare quality in public service today. He is intelligent and a hard worker who believes in doing the job right the first time, and I look forward to the opportunity of serving with him,” said James Dalton, Director at Durant/Bryan County Emergency Management.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against disasters and emergencies. The department maintains the State Emergency Operations Center which serves as a command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating state response activities. OEM delivers service to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through the network of more than 400 local emergency managers.

OEM also maintains, regularly updates and exercises the State Emergency Operations Plan. The department provides funding and/or assistance to more than 400 local emergency management departments throughout the state.