The Western Governors' Association keeps you updated on news of the West. Here are the western stories for the week starting May 20, 2019 that you don't want to miss. Image: Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell
An “unusually powerful” spring storm brought heavy rains and tornadoes to Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas this week. Flash flooding spread from the north and west sides of Oklahoma City to Tulsa, resulting in school closures and impassable roadways.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt toured flooded communities on Wednesday with Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum to assess the damage, and activated the State Emergency Operations Center. "That allows our emergency management crews to get with FEMA to start working through some federal funding to help some of our local communities," said Gov. Stitt. "So, that's what our team is doing out of Oklahoma City right now."
In Kansas, thunderstorms, torrential rains and least six tornadoes swept the state, with additional high winds, hail and tornadoes possible in the coming days. “My thoughts are with all Kansans impacted by severe weather and flooding. We are working hard with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and other state partners to coordinate the support and resources you need,” tweeted Gov. Laura Kelly.
Taking Flight: Drones are on the rise in western states. In Utah, they’re being used to monitor avalanche conditions, and in Kansas, farmers and ranchers are using drones to monitor crops and cattle. In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum recently announced the state's $33 million investment in the unmanned aircraft systems industry.
The Great Outdoor$: Outdoor recreation contributes $5.6 billion to the Wyoming economy each year, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. Learn how the newly created Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office is leveraging the state’s second-largest industry.
Epic Powder Increased Utah Ski Trips: Ski tourism in Utah reached an all-time high this season. More than 5.1 million visits to the state’s ski resorts were recorded, surpassing the previous record set in 2016-17 by 12%. “It provides a really nice tailwind going into next year," said president and CEO of Ski Utah Nathan Rafferty.
Bears Boost Alaska’s Economy: A first-of-its-kind study has found that bear viewing brings millions of dollars to the Southcentral Alaska economy. The report estimates that the bear viewing industry generates about $34 million in sales, and is responsible for “about $19 million in value added to the regional economy.”
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