Wild spring could signal hot summer for Oklahoma

So far this year, Oklahoma has received three presidential disaster declarations, said Michelann Ooten, spokeswoman for the state Emergency Management Department.

• Oklahoma received federal individual assistance Friday for residents and businesses in nine counties where damage from wildfires occurred April 9-12.

• Oklahoma is waiting to hear about a request for assistance for local governments in 11 counties where damage from heavy snows occurred March 27-28.

• Federal officials denied a request for assistance in 17 counties because of damage caused by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding April 25-May 16. The state is appealing, Ooten said.

BRYAN PAINTER,

STAFF WRITER

Summer is the peak season for one of the deadliest weather phenomena — lightning. In the United States, an average of 62 people are killed each year by lightning.

Online

More information may

be found by going to

lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration