TULSA, Okla. — Since a derecho and strong straight-line winds left widespread damage and power outages across northeast Oklahoma, viewers calling into 2 News Oklahoma asked where Governor Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell were during the recovery.
As of Thursday afternoon Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum still has not heard from Stitt. When asked, he said he'd reached out to the governor but had not heard back.
WATCH:
On Tuesday, Stitt asked OK Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat to issue a State of Emergency declaration as acting governor. For many, that's when they learned Pinnell was not in the state.
Treat talked to us about the confusion:
2 News reached out to Pinnell's office to see where he was and when he left Oklahoma.
His office's response read:
"The Lt. Governor left the state Monday afternoon around 2:30pm and is returning this (Thursday) afternoon. He was attending an annual lieutenant governor’s conference in Georgia and was aware of the Governor’s plans to leave the state."
They did say Pinnell was in touch with Oklahoma Emergency Management, Mayor Bynum, the Governor, and Pro Tem Treat’s staff since the storms hit. He also said the state moved forward with the emergency declaration as soon as the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management completed survey assessments.
2 News reached out to Treat's office after hearing from Pinnell.
“Our staff has had communication with the Lieutenant Governor and his staff. We were unaware of his departure but when we were contacted about Treat being acting governor, they confirmed that he had left the prior day," said Alex Gerszewski. "A completed disaster survey was never a factor in Pro Tem Treat’s decision-making. He’s been in contact with Director Gower in the intervening time trying to help expedite the completion of the damage application process.”
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