Tulsa Standard

The City of Tulsa has been responding to the severe storm that passed through Tulsa last weekend, which brought damages across the city leaving thousands without power and downed trees and limbs. PSO continues to restore power across Tulsa as the City shifts their resources to long-term recovery.

Power Outages and Downed Lines

PSO customers can check power outages online and restoration estimates online at https://www.psoklahoma.com/OutageMap. Currently, about 12,216 PSO customers are without power in the Tulsa metro.

Weatherhead Permit Costs Waived

PSO is responsible for maintaining the service cable from the utility pole to the weatherhead, but not the weatherhead itself. Service cannot be restored until a licensed electrician makes repairs. The City of Tulsa is working to expedite weatherhead permit approvals so when power is restored, homes are able to accept power. The City has also waived weatherhead permit fees and teams are available this weekend. Contractors can call or email Bob Kolibas, rkolibas@cityoftulsa.org, or (918) 261-9123 if there are questions about permitting over the weekend.

Streets Update

This weekend, a team of almost 500 members, including City of Tulsa crews and State crews from Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority have been focusing on clearing the large greenwaste from downed trees in roadways. It's important for residents to be mindful of heavy machinery in their neighborhoods and give crews enough space to work.

Of 545 traffic signals in the Tulsa, 35 are without power, and nine are in flash mode. Crews are continuing to reset signals. At the height of the storm, the City had close to 250 signals without power. Please treat intersections with flashing red lights or no lights as a four-way stop.

Free Greenwaste Site Open for Residential Customers

The City of Tulsa has opened a Mulch Site at E. Latimer St. & N. 89th E. Ave. (map) for  residential customers. The location is open daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Please note no storm debris (shingles, lumber, household goods, etc.) should be included in your greenwaste drop-offs.  

The City is working to schedule a curbside residential greenwaste pick up. To plan for the curbside greenwaste cleanup, be sure to stack your greenwaste in 5-foot lengths at the curb. Make sure greenwaste is not placed under power lines or over water meters, gas meters, telephone or cable boxes and mailboxes. A pickup window regarding residential curbside pickup will be announced soon. There are reports of people dumping their greenwaste in places like parks, on the sides of the road, and even in school parking lots. This should not occur. Illegal dumping carries a fine of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.

Volunteer Disaster Assistance and Volunteer Opportunities

The Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) continues to collaborate with volunteer organizations to aid residents experiencing food and medication insecurity, costly home repairs, or cannot manage fallen trees and limbs in their yards. This program is intended for those physically or financially incapable of performing these tasks. If you want to apply for assistance from volunteer organizations, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/weather.

It is important for groups not to self-deploy for restoration efforts at personal homes and green spaces. Individuals or volunteer groups that want to assist in volunteer efforts in Tulsa or in the Tulsa Parks System, fill out the form at www.cityoftulsa.org/weather

Disaster Response in Tulsa Parks

Over 100 of our 135 City parks have extensive storm damage. A multi-state urban forestry strike team will be deployed to Tulsa to assist with debris at City parks. The strike team consists of arborists, foresters, and horticulture experts from surrounding states. This group, who also helped with the 2007 ice storm recovery, will assess the overall health of damaged trees and develop a comprehensive plan to address hanging limbs and viability issues. They will identify trees that cannot be saved and those that pose safety concerns while developing a plan to help maintain the natural feel of our park system after the storm.  

Cooling Stations, Shelters Open

Cooling stations and shelters continue to remain open across the Tulsa metro for anyone without power needing a place to cool down or charge their phones and/or medical devices. A running list can be found on the front page of the City’s website, www.cityoftulsa.org.

Public Safety

For more information about avoiding scams during times of natural disaster, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/weather.

There is an increasing number of calls about citizens burning storm debris within the city limits of Tulsa. It is illegal to do so. The fire marshal will issue tickets to individuals who ignore the city statute. Learn more about fire safety tips at www.cityoftulsa.org/weather.

Refuse & Recycling

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. For complete details visit, www.cityoftulsa.org/weather

Original source can be found here.