Whenever the occurrence of any disaster, emergency or other condition shall render the use of any state or federal highway or detour dangerous to the public, or whenever the use thereof would interfere with disaster relief or rescue work, the Director of Highways, or such other person or employee as may be designated by said Director, shall have authority to close such highway, or portion thereof, as may be necessary until said emergency condition shall no longer exist. The Commissioner of Public Safety, or any member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, shall have like authority with respect to the closing of highways for a period of six (6) hours after the occurrence of such emergency condition, but upon exercising such authority the Commissioner of Public Safety, or highway patrolman, shall forthwith notify the Director of Highways of such action.
Laws 1953, p. 189, § 2.