Fallin Tours Purcell, Other Areas Affected By Recent Flooding

On Wednesday Gov. Mary Fallin amended an executive order for a state of emergency to include the entire state of Oklahoma; this as she toured the massive flooding in and around Purcell.

The governor first toured the area by air, then stopped by a couple local businesses to check out the damage on foot.

Sunday morning, Mid-State Manufactured Homes owner Jon Lawson woke and saw video from Jim Gardner and Bob Mills SkyNews 9 HD of his business under water. Nine doublewide mobile homes were destroyed, two even floated away.

Wednesday, the water had receded and Lawson gave Fallin a tour of what's left behind. Still he has insurance and is advertising he's back open for business.

5/27/2015 Related Story: Governor Mary Fallin Surveys Purcell Storm Damage

Next stop, the governor visited Bruce Slone Tires, where the situation is a bit more dire.

“I was in there asleep, he came in there and woke me up and told me ‘We got to go,'” said Dee Slone.

Dee and her husband Jim not only run the business, but also live there and they don't have flood insurance. Their only hope for help is a federal disaster declaration, so the governor encouraged them the call FEMA.

“[The governor told us]…We need to document everything we have,” said Dee.

“That helps us with our emergency declaration with the government to get FEMA assistance, not only with individuals but for public assistance for infrastructure and the state,” said Fallin.

The governor says their biggest task right now is assessing and documenting damage. Right now, three counties have been declared federal disaster areas but the state emergency management director says the damage is much more widespread.

“I think when you talk about just geographic area this could be the biggest just because we're talking about maybe all but six counties that have some sort of flood damage,” said Albert Ashwood.

The number to report damage is 1-800-621-FEMA.

After visiting Purcell, the governor then headed south down to Lake Texoma to check out the damage there.