The City of Tulsa is preparing for severe cold weather expected next week, in addition to potential wintry weather on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Cold Weather Preparation & Homeless Outreach
For the first time, the City of Tulsa has a formalized partnership in place with Housing Solutions Tulsa and other A Way Home for Tulsa Partners to ensure our most vulnerable community members have shelter and resources during the cold weather. Thirty-five outreach teams are currently working with our homeless population to ensure their safety. These teams are providing coats, hats, gloves, sleeping bags, and assistance with getting somewhere warm.
The main warming stations in Tulsa include:
Mayor Nichols and the City team will be monitoring the weather should an emergency declaration need to be issued to activate additional shelter planning efforts.
More information about winter weather shelters and homeless outreach can be found at:
https://www.housingsolutionstulsa.org/winter-weather-information/?mc_cid=09e90fc5d0&mc_eid=UNIQID
For more information about warming stations, or if you’re an organization interested in opening as an overflow shelter location during winter weather, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/weather and click the “Warming Stations” drop down.
Free Transportation Monday & Tuesday
Metro Link Tulsa will offer free bus rides on Monday and Tuesday because of the cold weather.
Cold Weather Safety & Reporting
The City of Tulsa wants to remind residents of the safety measures to deploy at home or while traveling during times of extreme cold. In short, ensure space heaters are used safely, operate generators outside only, never use an oven as a heating source, limit your time outdoors, stay off frozen bodies of water, and always check on your neighbors.
As a reminder, extended severe cold can sometimes cause waterline breaks on City streets and in neighborhoods. You can first check the waterline break board, https://www.cityoftulsa.org/breakboard, to see if a break has already been reported. If not, you can report it by calling (918) 596-9488.
Visit www.cityoftulsa.org/weather to learn more about winter weather preparedness, safety tips, and reporting measures.
Animal Safety
If the temperature is below 25 degrees, by ordinance, animals must be provided with a doghouse or other shelter that is capable of maintaining 40 degrees minimum. Tulsa Animal Services highly recommends animals are brought inside during periods of cold weather. In cases where space is a limitation, animals can be brought into a bathroom, laundry room, or garage.
Street Preparations
The City of Tulsa has geared up street preparations in case Tulsa receives winter precipitation. Currently, City street crews are on standby through Monday morning. Any potential street treatments will depend on the weather as it comes in. The Public Works Department will continue to watch the weather forecasts and respond accordingly. If you see large City vehicles or snow plows out, keep your distance and never try to pass them while they are actively working. As a rule of thumb, if you don’t have to be out during times of winter weather, don’t be out.
As background, 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.
To see all of the resources the City uses to treat Tulsa’s roads, in addition to a map of the City’s snow and ice routes, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness.
More Information
Want to receive updates on emergency weather information and create a disaster plan for your family? Download the free Tulsa Ready app, compatible with Android and iOS systems.
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