Moore: Lots of experience in disaster recovery

MOORE -- With less than 150 residents without power, Moore is "recovering well" from the county's ice storm, its city manager said this week.

Two weeks ago, more than 6,000 in Moore were without electricity.

"By and large, everyone is back up in the community," said Moore city manager Steve Eddy. "To the best of my knowledge we're pretty much back to normal."

And while Eddy described the storm as "the worst ice storm Moore has ever had" city officials, he said, were well prepared for the problems.

"We have the knowledge and we know what to expect," he said.

Eddy said Moore officials are accustomed to dealing with federal emergency management officials. "We speak FEMA," he said. "You have to learn to speak it and know what they are doing. We do."

With services restored, Eddy said city crews will begin hauling away tree debris Jan. 7.

"We wanted to give people a chance to get their debris out to the curb," he said. "We know there are a number of people who are going to need help."

Tree limbs placed for pickup should be placed within 12 feet of the curb or edge of roadway and must be cut in lengths of no longer than 10 feet.

Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis said the city has also set up a location where residents can haul their own tree limbs from the ice storm.

"There won't be any charge for the service," Lewis said.

Lewis said residents who wish to haul their own tree debris can take it to the Moore Animal Shelter at 4000 S. I-35 Service Road. To dump debris, a resident must show proof of residency, either a driver's license with the current address or a copy of a recent utility bill.

Proof of residency also may be obtained at City Hall.

"We are committed to getting the city cleaned up as soon as possible and getting back to normal," Lewis said. "I would like to thank the residents for their patience and their resilience in this time of recovery."

Lewis said the drop-off location will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day) until further notice. Only tree debris will be accepted.

Both Lewis and Eddy said the clean up process should go quickly.

"Once we get started our contractors will be working on it daily. It shouldn't take too long, less that a couple of months."

Residents seeking more information can check the city's Web site at www.cityofmoore.com. Information also will be made available via the city's CodeRed emergency notification system.

Residents who are not in the CodeRed database, should sign up on the City's Web site or call 793-5171 to make sure that they receive the CodeRed calls.