Midwest City adopts 2025–26 Emergency Operations Plan; council discusses shelters, vulnerable facilities
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Summary
The council adopted the city's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for 2025–26 after a presentation by Emergency Manager Debbie Wagner. Councilmembers praised the plan's detail, discussed public-shelter policy and outreach to long-term care facilities, and requested earlier distribution of large reports for review.
The Midwest City Council unanimously approved the city's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for 2025–26 after a presentation by Emergency Manager Debbie Wagner.
Wagner described the EOP as “a key document that we, as the whole community planning group, developed together,” explaining it sets roles and response actions for incidents that exceed daily resources. She said the plan includes a basic plan, Emergency Support Function (ESF) annexes (transportation, communications, fire suppression, search and rescue) and hazard-specific annexes that address outcomes such as extended power outages after winter storms.
Councilmembers praised the level of detail in the plan. One councilmember said they had read “almost every word” and called it “a very in-depth plan and a complete plan.” Wagner called the EOP “a living document” and invited councilmembers to contact her with questions as staff incorporate lessons learned.
The council discussed a recent power outage at a Midwest City long-term care and rehab facility. Wagner said she met with that facility’s administrator, invited the facility to participate in the city’s whole-community planning group and added the contact to the emergency mailing list, though the facility’s administrators had not yet participated. Wagner also noted healthcare facilities are required to have emergency plans by their accreditor, the Joint Commission.
Councilmembers raised the frequent public question of reopening public tornado shelters. Wagner and other staff referenced guidance from the Central Oklahoma Emergency Management Association that large jurisdictions generally do not operate public shelters because of traffic risks, capacity limits and the likelihood of people driving into dangerous weather. “We don't want people driving through weather to try to get to a shelter location,” Wagner said, adding that most injuries in severe storms occur in vehicles.
Councilmembers asked that large, multi-page reports such as the EOP be provided with more lead time. Staff said they would work to return to providing substantial reports to the council earlier so members have time to review and prepare questions.
The motion to adopt the Emergency Operations Plan passed by unanimous voice vote.
