Oklahoma

At a Glance

State Population: 4,019,800
Local Health Departments: 70
Frequent Public Health Emergencies: Tornadoes, Severe Winter Storms, Wildfires
Key Emergency Operations Center Activations: 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic
CDC PHEP Funding:
FY 2022: $7,950,479
FY 2021: $7,910,584
FY 2020: $7,742,012
Public Health Crisis Response Funding
Mpox 2023 funding: $437,893
COVID-19 2021 funding: $23,036,076
COVID-19 2020 funding: $6,924,231

PHEP-Funded Staff

Epidemiologists: 3
Laboratorians: 2
Planners: 14
Other: 18*

*Includes IT specialists, administrative staff, statisticians, and other positions

Top 5 Preparedness Investments

Medical Material Management and Distribution
Emergency Operations Coordination
Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation
Community Preparedness
Public Health Laboratory Testing

Stories from the Field

PHEP Helps Oklahoma Coordinate Emergency Evacuations During Wildfires

In Oklahoma, PHEP supports planning and exercising for the rapid evacuation of patients from medical facilities (such as nursing homes, hospitals, and dialysis centers) in the event of an emergency. In 2018, a very dry winter and spring, coupled with high winds, led to an unusually active wildfire season. Several communities were in immediate danger and ordered to evacuate. The Oklahoma State Department of Health and its local health departments used the evacuation procedures exercised through PHEP support to quickly evacuate and safely relocate more than 200 patients with medical needs to other facilities and ensure continuity of care.

Image courtesy of Oklahoma State Department of Health

A Planned Exercise Supports a Real-World Event in Oklahoma

In September 2016, the Oklahoma State Health Department needed assistance distributing flu vaccines across the state. The state SNS team incorporated the vaccine distribution into its regularly scheduled MCM exercise.