City of Tulsa Storm Update – June 19, 4:15 p.m.

6/19/2023

The Emergency Operations Center remains activated to coordinate the areawide response following the severe storm that passed through Tulsa early yesterday morning. 

Greenwaste Opening Tomorrow, Free for Residential Customers  
The City of Tulsa Mulch Site is closed, but an additional location is being setup for greenwaste drop-offs, which will start accepting greenwaste tomorrow at noon and closing at 7 p.m. 

• Standup Mulch Site, E. Latimer St. & N. 89^th East Ave. (map) 
• Free for Residential customers  
• Open Tuesday, June 20, from noon-7 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily afterward 
• Tulsans should bring a photo ID and a copy of your most recent utility bill  

Tulsa Quarry Landfill, 13720 E 46th St N., is also open, but fees are charged and vary by weight. 

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 

Residential Curbside Greenwaste Pickup
Residential curbside greenwaste pickup is expected to occur in the coming weeks. To prepare, residents should cut their green waste into 5-foot sections and neatly stack it at the curb. Make sure greenwaste is not placed under power lines or over water meters, gas meters, telephone or cables boxes and mailboxes. A pickup window regarding residential curbside pickup will be announced at a later date.  

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.  

• Reed Park Community Center, 4233 S. Yukon Ave. – Open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. through the rest of the week 
• Lacy Park Community Center, 2134 N. Madison Pl. – Open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. through the rest of the week  
• John 3:16 Mission, 906 N. Cheyenne Ave. – 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.  
• Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd., Sand Springs, OK, 74063 – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.  
• Hutcherson YMCA, 1120 E. Pine St., Tulsa, OK, 74106, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.  
• Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Pl. – 24/7 
• Open through Thursday at 5 p.m. 
• Leashed pets are allowed thanks to Humane Society of Tulsa 

Power Outages and Downed Lines 

PSO customers can check power outages online and restoration estimates online at https://www.psoklahoma.com/OutageMap. If you reported your PSO outage online, you can get status alerts on your outage. Currently, about 165,000 PSO customers without power in the metro.  

Estimated restoration times will be continuously updated as restoration proceeds. Please visit https://www.psoklahoma.com/alerts to ensure you are receiving updates for your address.  

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.  

Public Safety & Heat Safety
Tulsa Police non-emergency can be reached at (918) 596-9222. Please use 911 for emergencies, including emergencies for events like fires resulting from downed lines. 

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

EMSA is recommending the following heat safety measures for the entire Tulsa community, especially those without power or with family, friends, and neighbors who are without electricity.

• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing – even indoors. 
• Refrain from wearing restrictive clothing like spandex that will limit your body’s ability to stay cool. 
• Limit alcohol and/or caffeine consumption. 
• Check on elderly friends and family as well as those with preexisting medical conditions twice daily– that may mean making house calls and encouraging loved ones to leave their homes for an air conditioned location until power is restored. 
• Pay attention to messaging and share those messages with those who may have limited connectivity when possible. 
• Don't hesitate to visit a cooling station in Tulsa – be proactive about finding the nearest open cooling station. Encourage loved ones to do the same. 

Streets Update
City of Tulsa crews have finished clearing main roads with only two remaining streets due to trees wrapped in power lines. Crews will continue to focus on clearing residential/neighborhood roads that have downed trees.   

Tulsa Transit
Tulsa Transit bus routes are running as normal. For the most up to date information on routes, visit https://www.tulsatransit.org/.  

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. 

Bulky Waste and WIN Dumpster Program
Bulky waste pickups and the WIN Dumpster Program have been suspended 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
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 are open as cooling stations through the end of the week from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Reed and Lacy pools will remain open tomorrow. All other pools are closed until further notice. Splash pads that have electric include: Kendall Whittier, Lacy, Reed, Vining, Springdale, Chamberlain. Other splash pads do not have power.  

Jane A. Malone Center at Chamberlain Park will be open tomorrow.  

Oxley Nature Center and both City golf courses are also closed until further notice.  

Tulsa Animal Welfare
The Tulsa Animal Welfare will be open tomorrow. If you do not have power, make sure your animals have plenty of water and shade. 

Municipal Court
Tulsa Municipal Court will be open tomorrow.

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.