The City of Tulsa and area agencies are tracking extreme cold temperatures and additional chances for winter weather through next week.
Because multiple days of below freezing temperatures are expected starting at the end of the week, residents are asked to prepare now and take proper precautions.
Warming Stations
There are several warming stations currently open in Tulsa for anyone seeking shelter from the extreme cold, namely:
The City of Tulsa has been in conversations with area shelter providers. The City will provide more information should an emergency overflow shelter(s) be opened.
Organizations interested in setting up a temporary station or temporary shelter can find information on the City of Tulsa website at https://www.cityoftulsa.org/residents/public-safety/temporary-shelter-policy/.
Outreach Efforts
Extreme Temperature Planning
TAEMA helps coordinate extreme temperature planning throughout the year. Under its Extreme Temperature Plan, TAEMA continuously monitors the ongoing weather situation. Discussions have already begun with area shelter providers regarding the need for an emergency shelter if the actual temperature or wind chill value reaches -17 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature at which frostbite becomes possible with limited exposure.
TAEMA has been in conversations with area shelter providers. The City will provide more information should an emergency overflow shelter be opened.
TAEMA urges the public to prepare now and plan for several days of snow and extreme cold. If you have to get out, please make sure your vehicle is prepared with a winter car kit and your gas tank is full. Travel is not recommended in winter weather and extreme cold conditions, as the temperatures are potentially lethal if you aren’t properly prepared. If you have to get out, make sure you bring extra clothing and a charged cell phone.
For more winter weather preparation tips, visit: www.ready.gov/winter-weather
Protecting Your Home
In extreme cold temperatures, water pipes in homes and residences, especially in those with crawl spaces, are more susceptible to freezing and bursting, which can cause costly home repairs.
To prepare now:
To protect your water pipes from extreme cold:
Additional tips on protecting your water pipes can be found online at: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/protectingpipes
Reporting Waterline Breaks
Extended periods of cold weather can sometimes cause waterline breaks on City streets and in neighborhoods. To report a waterline break, call (918) 596-9488.
Tulsa Fire Department Safety Tips
Residents should STAY OFF freezing bodies of water, as ice that develops will not be thick enough to safely support someone. Parents should take extra caution to ensure children are not trying to play on things like frozen pools, ponds, lakes and streams. Things like ice fishing and ice skating are not safe in the forecasted conditions on bodies of water that have just frozen over.
Residents should also check smoke detectors to ensure they are operating properly. It’s also recommended residents purchase and install a Carbon Monoxide detector if they do not currently have one.
Though space heaters can be useful, they can be very dangerous if not utilized in a safe manner.
Space heater usage guidelines:
Please do not use ovens or stoves as heating devices, especially appliances that utilize gas. These can create a carbon monoxide danger in your home.
If you lose power and plan to utilize a portable generator, the generator should always be operated on the exterior of your home. It is important to keep them away from windows or any other places that would facilitate the fumes entering your home.
Tulsa Health Department Safety Tips
Along with the Tulsa Fire Department, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) also reminds residents of the importance of safe and proper heating in homes. According to the International Property Maintenance Code Section 602.3, adequate and safe heat sources must be available to occupants of living structures. THD may be able to help determine if a heat source is adequate, safe or not safe. For questions regarding your heat source, please contact the Tulsa Health Department’s Environmental Health Services program at (918) 595-4200. Additionally, residents are encouraged to limit time outdoors. If you must be outside, wear warm, water-resistant clothing and cover your head, hands, and feet. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any signs of hypothermia or frostbite, including shivering, slurred speech, confusion, and changes in skin such as whitening or numbing.
EMSA Safety Tips
In addition to an uptick in its motor vehicle accident response during times of winter weather, extended severe cold weather can cause an uptick in hospitalizations. Residents with pre-existing health conditions should stay indoors and ensure any medical supplies like oxygen tanks are in adequate supply. Oxygen tanks should also be stored indoors, as colder oxygen can be hard to breathe.
Fore more safety tips from EMSA, visit https://emsaonline.com/safety-resources/winter/.
Additional Safety Tips
Check on Your Neighbors
Don’t wait for your elderly family members or neighbors to ask for help. Be proactive and ask what you can do to help. Call or check in on them to make sure they have adequate and safe heating sources in their home. If absolutely necessary, ask what errands, if any, you could help them with.
Snow and ice-covered driveways often present a slipping hazard, so helping your neighbors get their mail is advised, as well as helping them shovel snow off of their driveways.
Bring Pets Inside
If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pets. During extreme cold weather, pet owners are asked to bring their pets inside.
As a reminder, in November last year the Council approved new ordinances requiring pet owners to bring their dogs into a temperature-controlled facility when the temperature is at or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) Updates
PSO is monitoring the weather closely and will be ready to respond safely and quickly to any outages.
PSO says customers can be confident that its grid is well designed, well built, and able to withstand most weather situations. Through drills and analysis of past storm responses, PSO prepares year-round for extreme weather. After major storms, PSO looks closely at its responses, and thinks about ways they can do better in the future.
PSO uses weather data and forecasts from American Electric Power staff meteorologists and the National Weather Service to keep a close eye on fast-changing weather conditions. During large-scale outages, PSO uses the Incident Command System (ICS), which allows fast, effective response and communications with emergency response agencies and our customers.
Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) Updates
Oklahoma Natural Gas says it is prepared to deliver natural gas safely and reliably to homes and businesses. They have purchased natural gas since this spring and placed it into storage for winter weather. They've increased storage, upgraded pipelines and expanded supply sources, including outside its service areas. They have also deployed compressed natural gas (CNG) trailers to mitigate potential service disruptions.
By following the tips below, customers can help lessen cold weather's impact on their natural gas bills.
Refuse & Recycling
While there are no impacts to refuse and recycling operations at this time, please follow the City of Tulsa on Facebook, @CityofTulsa, and on X, @CityofTulsaGov, for the latest updates.
City of Tulsa Winter Weather Preparedness
The City of Tulsa is monitoring the potential for winter weather to move through the area Thursday into Friday and on Sunday into Monday.
While the forecast will dictate plans, crews will be ready to respond as conditions warrant. Normally, when no rain is forecast before winter precipitation, City crews treat the roads with brine (salt/water mixture). If there is rain before the changeover, crews wait until the transition to occurs apply salt, otherwise the brine would wash off of the roads. Then, when there is enough snow on the roads to plow, the City uses a team of plows to clear the snow. Drivers who see City trucks on the road are asked to drive slowly and keep their distance.
The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway (except for the Turnpike section), L.L. Tisdale Expressway and all arterial (main) streets. Other highway segments in Tulsa are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
After a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible. These resources are available to attain this goal:
Crews are assigned to 36 specific routes totaling approximately 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts. Once the main streets are cleared and conditions permit, selected residential streets may be treated based on traffic and steepness.
During winter weather response, the first focus is to clear city arterial streets for emergency responders. After arterial streets are clear, the second focus then moves to residential or collector streets near hospitals, schools and areas with steep hills. The following link includes every map and route the City uses for arterial streets, collector streets, schools and steep hills: www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness
Additional winter and cold weather tips can be found online at www.cityoftulsa.org/weather.
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