'This Is Oklahoma, This Is What We Do:' State Lawmakers Help Oklahomans Impacted By Tornado Outbreak

State lawmakers are surveying the damage and figuring out what they can do on the state level to help Oklahomans impacted by this weekend’s storms. Governor Kevin Stitt issued a state of emergency declaration for 12 counties, and state lawmakers are working to ensure emergency management across the state is fully funded.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Greg McCortney and House Speaker Charles McCall both visited Sulphur over the weekend to meet with people in their district, and help determine next steps from the legislative side.

Both lawmakers say the Oklahoma standard was alive and well, even in this dark time.

“This is Oklahoma, this is what we do, this is what we do best. It's what we're known for,” said Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada). “It was really impressive to watch a community rally together in the middle of the pain.”

“The people are just tough, there's nothing that can defeat them,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, (R-Ada). “What's personal about it and what's real is these are people I know. These are people some of them I knew well before I went into the legislature.”

Now state lawmakers are doing what they can to help.

“The governor has already drafted the emergency declaration which will open up the federal monies to flow into the state but the state will have to provide matches,” said Rep. McCall.

“Making sure that we have fully funded emergency management is a top priority. Making sure that the money is there to partner with the county, partner with the federal government,” said Sen. McCortney.

While it may be a long road to recovery, McCortney and McCall say they have a whole state of people ready to help, and rally behind their district. 

“All hands on deck we've got to do whatever it takes to make sure that sulfur is able to rebuild and be everything that it has always been,” said Sen. McCortney.

Even on the darkest days, the Oklahoma standard shines through.

“Beautiful day today, first opportunity to rebuild and move forward, that's what we're gonna go do,” said Rep. McCall.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond is also working to help protect Oklahomans from unfair price hikes, saying in a statement he “will absolutely not tolerate exorbitant prices on goods and services desperately needed by Oklahomans during this difficult time.”