OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Kevin Stitt has authorized the activation and deployment of Oklahoma National Guard stranded motorists assistance and recovery teams (SMART) following a request by the Office of Emergency Management in preparation for severe winter weather beginning Friday and lasting into the weekend.

Guardsmen are being dispatched to Woodward, Weatherford, Ardmore, Vinita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Durant where they will support the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in recovering and transporting stranded motorists to safety as directed by OHP troopers.

“As severe winter weather approaches, our priority is the safety of our fellow Oklahomans,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Our Guardsmen provide a critical capability to reach stranded motorists and get them to safety. This mission is a perfect example of how the Oklahoma National Guard partners with other state agencies to protect our neighbors when they need it most.”

This deployment is part of a coordinated statewide effort to ensure public safety. The Oklahoma National Guard has a long history of supporting the state during severe weather events.