11 Dead in Oklahoma Ice Storm

Ice is creating havoc all across the middle part of the country and Oklahoma is getting particularly hard hit:

Eleven people have been killed in weather-related accidents since Saturday and power has been cut to 270,000 homes and businesses as a result of the ice storm.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is reporting 11 traffic deaths since Saturday night after the first blanket of ice fell on Oklahoma.

Four people were killed on Interstate 40 near Okemah about 7 p.m., the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Troopers were attempting to clear off two accidents on I-40 at the North Canadian River bridge, west of Okemah, when several more cars lost control on the icy roads and crashed into those vehicles, patrol Capt. Chris West said.

A series of accidents on the bridge resulted in a 10-vehicle pileup, which was capped by a tractor - trailer that caused an explosion and large fire when it slammed into the other vehicles, West said.

I've got a little bit of experience with Oklahoma ice storms. On Dec. 23, 1987 the Mrs. and I flew back to Bethany, OK for a family Christmas at my aunt's home. We awoke on Christmas Eve to sleet and freezing rain which went on all day. Twice I went out to chip the ice off my rental car in what was clearly a losing effort. All Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services were canceled because by the time the storm ended there was something like 2" of ice accumulations around much of Oklahoma. We never lost power at the house, but there were other parts of the state that had downed power lines from ice and broken tree branches.

When the sun finally came out the scenery was breathtaking. The trees looked like they were made of crystal thanks to their their coating of ice. Large icicles hung from overhead power lines (and were very dangerous to stand under). The front lawns looked like skating rinks and were almost impossible to walk on. The streets were absolutely treacherous.

A couple of days after the storm we decided to venture out for breakfast and as I slowly eased the car through the restaurant's parking lot we started to slide. The car was headed very slowly toward the building and I was pretty sure we were going to hit it. Fortunately, there was just enough traction to slow us down before we dinged up the rental car.

The car still had a huge sheet of ice on the roof, and I think it was the next day were were driving somewhere and when I hit the brakes, the ice on the roof broke free and came slamming down on the hood. I about jumped out of my skin.

It was absolutely beautiful, but I sure wouldn't want to have to deal with that stuff on a regular basis.