Central Oklahoma city reacts to 5.0 quake

Published 7:15 am Monday, November 7, 2016

CUSHING, Okla. — When they felt the tremors, residents of a central Oklahoma city could tell the earthquake that struck at 7:44 p.m. Sunday was a big one. People from the eastern edge to the southwestern portion of the state also reported feeling the quake.

Cushing, Oklahoma, resident Ryan Criner felt the shaking while he was in his vehicle picking up a co-worker.

“We pretty much looked at each other and it was like, ‘Holy crap!'” Criner said.

Municipal and emergency response officials in the city of 8,000 — located about an hour west of Tulsa — reacted quickly to what the U.S. Geological Survey initially called a 5.3 magnitude but now classifies as a 5.0 magnitude earthquake centered about 2 kilometers west of the city.

People living in the Cimarron Tower apartment complex in downtown Cushing were evacuated after the quake caused parts of the building’s facade to crumble and fall into the street below.

The six-story building contains 46 studio and one-bedroom apartments, and provides affordable housing for low-income, elderly residents.

During a press conference city officials held at the Cushing municipal building Sunday night, City Manager Steve Spears said a temporary shelter had been set up for Cimarron Tower residents at a local youth center.

Cushing resident Harley McKnight said the power was out at his house for about 25-30 minutes and effected most of the Western side of Cushing directly after the quake. By 10 p.m., city officials were saying power had been restored to almost everyone.

Police Chief Tully Folden asked the public to stay out of several blocks in the downtown area that have been cordoned off, saying there is still a risk that bricks or stonework could fall from the facades of some buildings.

Most buildings in Cushing’s downtown area were built in the early 1900s.

Spear said building standards were different then and he wants to be sure the historic building foundations haven’t been damaged and the buildings themselves are safe before people return to them.

The damage visible initially was limited to crumbling facades and broken windows, he said. A few city buildings also took minor damage.

Assistant City Manager Jeremy Frazier said none of the companies operating pipelines and oil storage facilities near Cushing had reported any damage. He had spoken with two operators.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission announced its Pipeline Safety Department is in contact with operators at the Cushing terminal who are continuing to assess the condition of its infrastructure.

Spears said both city officials and oil companies work hard to prepare for emergency situations. They had already scheduled a disaster exercise for Nov. 17 based on an earthquake scenario.

“(It will be) the same type of disaster, only worse,” he said.

Spears declined to speculate about any response regarding disposal well operation in the area, saying that is up to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

He noted that local workers depend on the oil field for jobs but said people are also concerned about property damage.

“I think it’s a balance,” he said.

Charles and Simmons write for the Stillwater, Oklahoma News Press.