"This storm could carry quite a punch," Henry said as he urged Oklahomans to stock up on provisions and heed travel warnings. "We are preparing for the worst."
A Christmas Eve blizzard dumped 14 inches of snow on parts of the state, closing major highways and turnpikes as well as Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Dozens of motorists became stranded on snowbound highways when their vehicles became stuck in piles of snow.
Henry said he does not want that to happen again during the next storm and urged Oklahomans to beware of travel conditions and take no unnecessary risks.
State Emergency Management Director Albert Ashwood said the storm, which was off the California coast Tuesday, was expected to reach the state by tonight.
"The potential is there for a devastating storm," Ashwood said. He said some forecasters were comparing it to the ice storm of 2007 that knocked out power to 650,000 electrical customers across the state.
"Be prepared to hunker down," he said.
He said emergency generators and bottled water were being stockpiled in Oklahoma City and McAlester in advance of the storm. Hospitals, mass shelters and water systems were to be first in line to receive the generators in case of power failures, he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation said crews were preparing salt and sand trucks and tuning up delivery vehicles that would be loaded by Wednesday. There are 500 trucks available statewide during weather events.
The agency said it quickly restocked storage sheds statewide following the Christmas Eve blizzard. The sheds are at capacity with 130,000 tons of sand and salt and 121 tons of magnesium chloride, an additional ice fighter.
The cost of recovering from winter storms is considered when developing the agency's $140 million annual maintenance budget, which also includes pothole repairs, litter pickup and other activities, the agency said.
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