City of Tulsa Storm Update - June 18, 7 p.m.

6/18/2023

Crews have continued to respond to damage across the city following the severe storm that passed through Tulsa earlier this morning. The Emergency Operations Center remains activated to coordinate the areawide response.   

Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads and stay home. If you have to be out, do not drive over downed power lines and large tree debris. Crews will be working in the overnight hours and crews need room to do their jobs safely. Tulsa Police are doubling staffing overnight as we head into day two of storm recovery.  

Important Numbers 

• Trees in the roadway and waterline breaks: (918) 596-9488 
• Sewer overflow: (918) 586-6999 
• Power outage or downed lines: Online or call (833) 776-6884 
• Gas leaks: Call 911 after evacuating the area 

Cooling and Power Stations
The following cooling stations are open for anyone without power needing a place to cool down or charge their phones and/or medical devices.  

City of Tulsa Facilities 

• Reed Park Community Center, 4233 S. Yukon Ave. – until 8 p.m. today  
• Open Monday, June 19, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  
• Lacy Park Community Center, 4233 S. Yukon Ave. – until 8 p.m. today  
• Open Monday, June 19, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Other Facilities  

• John 3:16, 906 N. Cheyenne Ave., 2134 N. Madison Pl. – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
• Salvation Army, 102 N. Denver Ave. – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
• Tulsa County Social Services, 2301 Charles Page Blvd. – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.  
• Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Pl. – 24/7 
• Open through Thursday at 5 p.m. 

Power Outages and Downed Lines 

Hundreds of power poles/lines are down in Tulsa with about 180,000 PSO customers without power. Tulsa Police is currently prioritizing storm-related, injury, and emergency calls. Tulsa Police non-emergency can be reached at (918) 596-9222. Please use 911 for emergencies only, including emergencies for events like fires resulting from downed lines. 

PSO is planning to have estimated time of power restoration information available by tomorrow. 

If the weatherhead (above-ground power connection) to your house is damaged, an electrician should be called to repair the weatherhead. PSO will not be able to restore service to a damaged weatherhead.  

Streets Update
More than 35 City of Tulsa crews are clearing Tulsa’s main streets, with others working to assess storm conditions neighborhood-by-neighborhood. Work will occur during daylight hours throughout the next few days. 

City crews are working diligently to clear trees off the roadways while PSO Oklahoma crews work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Most of Tulsa’s main roads are passable at this time, and City crews have turned their focus to neighborhood streets. Please never go near or touch a downed power line.  

If you have to be driving and come across intersections where streetlights are out, please treat the intersection as a four-way-stop. 

City of Tulsa Services Update
City staff is assessing damage to City facilities and infrastructure, with several facility roofs sustaining damage, as well as multiple traffic signals, lights and signs. Nearly 300 traffic signals are out of power as of this evening. 

Refuse & Recycling
Trash and recycling pickup will operate as normal so long as roadways are passable. All trash should be placed in bags in your gray trash cart, and only loose recyclables should be placed in the blue recycle cart. If your carts are not picked up due to inaccessibility, please be patient and leave them at the curb. Haulers will make every effort to collect when roads are passable.  

Green Waste and City of Tulsa Mulch Site
The City of Tulsa mulch site is currently closed due to downed power lines near the facility. If you have storm debris in your yard, please keep it bundled up and on your property until further notice.  

Bulky Waste and WIN Dumpster Program
Bulky waste pickups and the WIN Dumpster Program have been suspended indefinitely as crews have been diverted to storm response. An update will be provided of when pickups will resume.  

Food Safety and Neighbors
If you have elderly neighbors and family members, please check on them to ensure they are safe. Because many residences will be without power, residents are asked to practice proper food safety measures. For a list of ways to safely eat food after a power outage, visit www.cdc.gov/foodsafety. 

Tulsa Parks Update
Parks and Recreation facilities are continuing to undergo inspections for damage.  

Mohawk, Hunter, Woodward, Savage, and Carl Smith Parks are closed and pedestrian traffic is not advisable.   

Whiteside, McClure, Berry, Waterworks, Hicks, Dawson, Henthorne, and Tulsa Garden Center do not have power and are also closed.  

Reed and Lacy Park Community Centers will be open as cooling stations tomorrow. Reed and Lacy pools will also be open. All other pools are closed. Splash pads that have electric include: Kendall Whittier, Lacy, Reed, Vining, Springdale, Chamberlain. All others are off. 

J Malone at Chamberlain has power but is closed for the holiday. Oxley Nature Center is also closed due to impassable conditions. 

Tulsa Animal Welfare
The Tulsa Animal Welfare shelter was closed today due to storm-related causes. An update will be provided of when it will reopen.  

Household Fire Safety Tips 

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. All of these devices have battery backups even if they are hardwired. When experiencing power outages, it is important to check the battery backups to ensure that they are operating properly.  

Alternative power and cooking safety
Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows.  

Generator safety tips 

Generators can be helpful when the power goes out, but can also be dangerous if improperly utilized. 

• Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages. 
• Make sure that you have operational carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets. 
• Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock. 
• Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords. 
• Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite. 
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.  

Candle Safety 

• Never leave a candle unattended. 
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc. 
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else. 
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting. 
• Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep. 
• Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment – such as a lantern or kerosene heater. 

Follow the City of Tulsa on Facebook, @CityofTulsa and on Twitter, @cityoftulsagov for updates.