Oklahoma power crews headed east to help out with storms return to Tulsa

TULSA — UPDATE: The PSO crews and contractors that were headed to Kentucky and Virginia to help with anticipated storm damage have been turned around.

PSO spokesman Wayne Greene told KRMG late Friday afternoon that a high number of power outages locally led to the decision.

Here is the story as originally published:

With tornado watches issued and violent weather anticipated in a large area of the central and eastern United States, the Public Service Company of Oklahoma has deployed a large team to help deal with expected power outages.

“About 160 personnel, including 60 PSO employees and 100 business partners, will be leaving today from PSO facilities around the state for storm relief efforts in Virginia and Kentucky,” PSO wrote in an email to KRMG Friday morning.

Later, he told KRMG this is just an example of how mutual aid works between power companies around the country.

“Our sister utilities in those states tell us that they anticipate getting quite a bit of damage from storms that are coming in tonight, so we’re going to be there tomorrow night to assist them with whatever recovery is necessary,” Greene said.

The group formed a convoy of about 35 vehicles as it pulled away from its staging area near East 51st Street and South Garnett Ave.