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Oklahomans impacted by ongoing flash drought, extreme heat

Oklahoma had some nice rain in early June and May but since June 11, we have seen the driest 30-day stretch in Oklahoma in the last 100 years.

Oklahomans impacted by ongoing flash drought, extreme heat

Oklahoma had some nice rain in early June and May but since June 11, we have seen the driest 30-day stretch in Oklahoma in the last 100 years.

ARMSTRONG SHOWS US HOW THE DROUGHT AND EXTREME HEAT ARE FEEDING OFF OF ONE ANOTHER. MICHAEL: WE HAD SOME NICE RAIN IN EARLY JUNE AND MAY, BUT SINCE JUNE 11, WE ARE IN THE DRIEST 30-DAY STRETCH IN OKLAHOMA IN THE LAST 100 YEARS, AND IT’S RAISING CONCERNS FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS. >> ONE THING WE TRY TO DO IS BE OPEN WITH WHAT THE SITUATION IS, WHAT WE’RE DEALING WITH. MICHAEL: JAKE MILLER WITH OUTWEST FARMS IN CLEVELAND, OKLAHOMA REACHED OUT FOR HELP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE KNOWS FIRSTHAND HOW BAD WE NEED RAIN, BUT HE HAS SEEN WORSE, LIKE IN 2012. >> YEAH, I STILL REMEMBER IT, ALL THE PONDS GOING DRY. IT WAS JUST A REALLY BAD DROUGHT. IT’S NOT TO THAT LEVEL YET. MICHAEL: WHILE OUR DROUGHT ISN’T AS BAD AS THE ONE 10 YEARS AGO, THE TIMING OF THIS FLASH DROUGHT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS COMBINING WITH OTHER FACTORS. >> THE DROUGHT WAS A LOT WORSE IN 2012. BUT THE PRICE OF DIESEL AND FUEL AND EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING’S INFLATED RIGHT NOW. SO THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING AFFECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE. MICHAEL: JAKE TOLD ME HIS FAITH AND CUSTOMERS ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE MAKERS. >> WE RELY ON GOD. AND IF WE’RE DOING WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO, HE’LL TAKE CARE OF US. AND SO FAR, HE’S PROVIDED THE CUSTOMERS THAT WANT TO SUPPORT OUR FARM, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WITH OUR BUSINESS, CUSTOMERS ARE WHAT CONTINUES TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN. MICHAEL: WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE HEAT AND DRY WEATHER TO G
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Oklahomans impacted by ongoing flash drought, extreme heat

Oklahoma had some nice rain in early June and May but since June 11, we have seen the driest 30-day stretch in Oklahoma in the last 100 years.

The ongoing flash drought is impacting most Oklahomans in one way or another.Oklahoma had some nice rain in early June and May but since June 11, we have seen the driest 30-day stretch in Oklahoma in the last 100 years. It’s raising concerns for farmers and ranchers."One thing we try to do is be open with what the situation is, what we're dealing with," said Jake Miller, Outwest Farm manager.Miller in Cleveland, Oklahoma, reached out for help on social media. He knows firsthand how bad we need rain but he has seen worse, such as in 2012.“Yeah, I still remember it, all the ponds going dry. It was just a really bad drought. It's not to that level yet," Miller said.While the drought isn’t as bad as the one 10 years ago, the timing of this flash drought is problematic because it is combined with other factors."The drought was a lot worse in 2012. But the price of diesel and fuel equipment, everything is inflated right now. So that's the biggest thing affecting a lot of people," Miller said.Miller told KOCO 5 that his faith and his customers are the biggest difference makers."So we rely on God. And if we're doing what he wants us to do, he'll take care of us. And so far he's provided the customers that want to support our farm, because ultimately with our business customers are what continues to keep our doors open," Miller said.We still have a lot more heat and dry weather to get through but many are hoping beneficial rain will come again sooner rather than later.

The ongoing flash drought is impacting most Oklahomans in one way or another.

Oklahoma had some nice rain in early June and May but since June 11, we have seen the driest 30-day stretch in Oklahoma in the last 100 years. It’s raising concerns for farmers and ranchers.

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"One thing we try to do is be open with what the situation is, what we're dealing with," said Jake Miller, Outwest Farm manager.

Miller in Cleveland, Oklahoma, reached out for help on social media. He knows firsthand how bad we need rain but he has seen worse, such as in 2012.

“Yeah, I still remember it, all the ponds going dry. It was just a really bad drought. It's not to that level yet," Miller said.

While the drought isn’t as bad as the one 10 years ago, the timing of this flash drought is problematic because it is combined with other factors.

"The drought was a lot worse in 2012. But the price of diesel and fuel equipment, everything is inflated right now. So that's the biggest thing affecting a lot of people," Miller said.

Miller told KOCO 5 that his faith and his customers are the biggest difference makers.

"So we rely on God. And if we're doing what he wants us to do, he'll take care of us. And so far he's provided the customers that want to support our farm, because ultimately with our business customers are what continues to keep our doors open," Miller said.

We still have a lot more heat and dry weather to get through but many are hoping beneficial rain will come again sooner rather than later.