Hundreds of residents are ready for answers when it comes to the increasing seismic activity in the state.
Friday, they got their chance to voice concerns in a public forum held at the state Capitol by state leaders
The map below shows the number of earthquakes measured at 4.0 magnitude and above in Oklahoma for 2015, according to the OU Seismology Lab.
Between everyone that walked up to the microphone inside, the message was clear: enough is enough.
It was a packed room– so packed that people moved to fill the house floor. Among them was Julie Allison of Edmond whose home was rattled by a 4.3 quake two weeks ago.
“I could hear glass breaking, pictures falling in my living room,” said Allison.
RELATED: Strong earthquake rattles Edmond area | Oklahoma speaks out about 4.7 magnitude earthquake
Allison said it was time to speak out in front of leaders and hundreds of others who shared similar stories of damage. Many are now ready to hold lawmakers accountable.
“Sometimes my house vibrates 24 hours a day at a time,” said Harrah resident Dana Johnson. “We need to wake up, Mary Fallin has been at the wheel, and look where we are.”
The forum was held by state representatives Richard Morrissette and Cory Williams. But the lack of lawmakers in attendance – particularly governor Fallin – was noticed by residents and speakers alike.
“This fact has not escaped this crowd. It's one of the drivers of anger and frustration that's being expressed here,” said Tulsa petroleum geologist Bob Jackman.
From fracking to insurance, several topics were covered. Allison and Johnson both hope this is just the beginning of change for the Sooner state.
“I want to see Oklahoma start to be cleaned up, she has been fracked, broke, poisoned, misused, and abused for a buck,” said Johnson.
“It’s not just my house, it's not my physical structure, it's the land, it's the water, it's the environment, and at some point in time enough is enough,” said Allison.
No one from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission was in attendance either. 2 Works for You reached out to Governor Fallin's office to find out why she didn't go to the forum.
Her staff issued this statement:
“The governor today is conducting the state’s business. Much of her time today was involved on issues affecting the state’s economy, such as preparing the state’s budget, which must be presented to legislators in a little more than two weeks. The governor is not just talking about earthquakes. She continues to work on finding solutions. Her Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity, which she formed more than a year ago, meets regularly to develop a response to the earthquakes and to ensure that the energy industry, state agencies, environmentalists and academics are all talking and sharing data. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which has exclusive jurisdiction over oil and gas in the state, and the governor’s secretary of energy and environment are actively working on this issue. Just two days ago, the Corporation Commission issued a directive that 27 saltwater disposal wells in the Fairview area limit volumes. There is no need for the governor to intervene at this time.”
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission says they weren't invited to the forum.
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