With the potential for dangerous winter weather and extreme cold temperatures heading into the weekend and early next week, the City is preparing now to get its equipment ready for a snow event. Crews will continue to operate on a 24-hour winter weather response until the threat of winter weather subsides.
It is important 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. For more winter weather preparation tips, visit: www.ready.gov/winter-weather
As for today’s operations, crews will treat slick spots on roadways as needed while they prepare snow plows for the forecasted snow event.
If you or someone you know has limited heating options and needs a place to stay, there are two shelters open 24/7 in Tulsa, namely:
If you see someone experiencing homelessness without adequate shelter, please fill out this form so an outreach team can try to get them inside. The City is continuing to work closely through its strategic partnership with Housing Solutions and other community partners to bring our vulnerable neighbors in and out of the cold.
TAEMA Updates
TAEMA has been in contact with area homeless shelters and they all report they have beds currently available. There are multiple outreach teams working to communicate the threat of upcoming weather to the encampments in the area, and are attempting to convince as many of the unhoused population to seek shelter leading into the weekend as possible. TAEMA is working to provide material assistance to shelter operations to ensure they have the ability to continue to serve the community.
Overflow Shelter Operations
The City of Tulsa's overflow shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness at the former Tulsa County juvenile detention center had 172 overnight guests on Thursday evening. The number of overnight participants is normally 59, but due to inclement weather, we have increased the capacity at the shelter, while still maintaining social distancing guidelines.
It takes a citywide effort to help our neighbors in need. The City continues to work with Housing Solutions and their community partners' outreach teams, such as Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, to ensure this vulnerable population has a safe place to stay. The outreach program is helping transfer individuals experiencing homelessness to local shelters.
Thanks to our partnership with Iron Gate, the overflow shelter provides warm meals daily. Iron Gate projects to serve a total of 2,135 meals from Feb. 8, 2021 to Feb. 15, 2021. Today, the shelter is celebrating February birthdays with cupcakes for everyone.
In addition, the shelter welcomes anyone and their pets, regardless of weather conditions. Veterinarians regularly frequent the shelter to provide animal care at no charge.
The City opened the shelter in September 2020 thanks to CARES Act funding. To date, more than $3.8 million has been allocated on homelessness response. To learn more about the community-driven program, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/cares
Refuse & Recycling Update
Refuse servicing will continue as streets are passable. Steep or slick hills may not get serviced until trucks can safely navigate the roadways. If you have not received refuse service and have extra refuse that does not fit in your cart, you may place a reasonable amount of additional bagged refuse next to the cart. No extra refuse stickers are needed.
Please DO NOT place refuse in the recycling cart.
Bulky waste and recycling pickup is on hold until employees are released from clearing the roadways.
There are no dead animals or illegal dumping being picked up, unless it is a road hazard, until employees are released from clearing the roadways.
Please be patient as these employees are working long hours. Customers will get serviced as quickly as it is safe to do so. Depending on the weather situation, it may take up to a week after the event is over to get caught up. Employees may work on Saturdays, if necessary.
Inspections Availability
Due to inclement weather, Inspection Services is only performing critical utilities inspections, such as repairs made due to removed gas, electric and water meters. To schedule an inspection for critical utility repairs, contact Phil Bradley at (918) 798-8031, Steve Malugani at (918) 519-8746, or Bob Kolibas at (918) 261-9129.
Please note that after hours inspections will be charged as overtime inspections billed at $260.
City of Tulsa Snow & Ice Response
The City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway, 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 35 specific routes totaling 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.
The following link includes the route map the City uses in its winter weather response: www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness
Additionally, a list of frequently asked questions on the City’s snow and ice response can be found online.
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. Follow the City of Tulsa on Twitter for updates during winter weather season, @cityoftulsagov.
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