Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-685.2: Findings and declarations

Because of the existing possibility of natural and man-made

emergencies and disasters in the United States of unprecedented size

and destructiveness, and in the event such an incident occurs: to

assure continuity of government through legally-constituted

leadership, authority and responsibility in offices of the

government of the state and its political subdivisions; to provide

for the effective operation of governments during an emergency

caused by an incident in the United States; and to facilitate the

early resumption of functions temporarily suspended, it is found and

declared to be necessary: to provide for additional officers who

can exercise the powers and discharge the duties of Governor; to

provide for emergency interim succession to governmental offices of

this state and its political subdivisions in the event incumbents

thereof (and their deputies, assistants or other subordinate

officers authorized, pursuant to law, to exercise all of the powers

and discharge the duties of such offices hereinafter referred to as

deputies) are unavailable to perform the duties and functions of

such offices; and to provide for special emergency judges who can

exercise the powers and discharge the duties of judicial offices in

the event regular judges are unavailable, the provisions of this act

are adopted to meet emergency conditions, which result from natural

and man-made emergencies and disasters in the United States.