1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE
3 RESOLUTION 44 By: McCortney
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7 AS INTRODUCED
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8 A Resolution recognizing the KTEN Weather Team for
8 their coverage of tornadic weather events occurring
9 in south-central Oklahoma on April 27-28, 2024; and
9 directing distribution.
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13 WHEREAS, 30 tornadoes occurred in Oklahoma during the April 27-
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14 28, 2024, tornado outbreak and flash flooding event; and
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15 WHEREAS, the communities of Sulphur and Holdenville were hit
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16 with EF3 tornadoes, taking the lives of three Oklahomans, accounting
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17 for hundreds of injuries, and resulting in millions of dollars in
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18 damage and destruction to homes, local businesses, and other
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19 structures; and
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20 WHEREAS, the KTEN Weather Team, comprised of Chief Meteorologist
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21 Mandy Bailey and Meteorologists Hunter Donahoe, Amber Nowaski, and
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22 Cathy Corbett, provided coverage throughout the severe weather on
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23 April 27-28; and
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 1 WHEREAS, by utilizing technology from the Weather Company during
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2 their on-air tornado coverage, the KTEN Weather Team provided
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3 accurate information to area residents, giving them time to prepare
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4 and seek shelter; and
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5 WHEREAS, their minute-by-minute coverage kept residents
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6 informed, preventing further injuries and loss of life; and
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7 WHEREAS, their coverage reached a larger audience and warned
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8 more people through their Max technology, which includes the Max
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9 Engine, allowing the team to send out personalized mobile app videos
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10 and geotargeted information to send severe weather updates directly
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11 to viewers’ smartphones; and
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12 WHEREAS, Chief Meteorologist Mandy Bailey is a University of
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13 Oklahoma (OU) graduate who has an extensive severe weather
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14 background, and her analyses are strengthened through her experience
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15 in her meteorology coursework at OU; and
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16 WHEREAS, following their comprehensive severe weather coverage,
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17 which undoubtedly played a critical role in saving thousands of
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18 lives, the KTEN team has provided continued coverage of the relief
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19 efforts in Sulphur, Holdenville, and beyond, as these communities
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20 recover and rebuild following much loss and devastation.
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21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION
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22 OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
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 1 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes the KTEN Weather Team
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2 for their coverage of tornadic weather events occurring in south-
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3 central Oklahoma on April 27-28, 2024.
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4 THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to KTEN-TV.
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6 59-2-3803 KC 5/21/2024 4:33:53 PM
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Req. No. 3803 Page 3