Tulsans battled frigid temperatures and mounting snowfall as a major storm struck all of Oklahoma over the weekend.

Snowfall amounts were at least 3-4 inches and that was growing from Sunday night through Wednesday.

The U.S. National Weather Service in Tulsa issued a wind chill warning for all of Eastern Oklahoma through Tuesday morning. There were wind chills from 20-30 degrees below zero. A second round of snow with 3-5 inches was forecast for Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. Forecasters were predicting a high of 34 degrees on next Friday with highs of 40 degrees on Saturday and 46 degrees on Sunday.

City officials are in contact with area homeless shelters. All shelters report they have beds available. There are outreach teams working to communicate the threat of upcoming weather to the encampments in Tulsa, and are attempting to convince as many of the unhoused population to seek shelter.

City officials are urging those who are outside to come inside without fear of losing their things – this has been a main concern among many who continue to choose to stay outside. The city is not cleaning up homeless encampments or taking people’s possessions if they are left outside at this time.

Teams across the city are continuing to frequent known encampments and encourage people to come inside.

On Sunday, officials were able to access an encampment in south Tulsa using a drone to reach individuals. Due to these efforts, a dozen people were able to secure a safe and warm shelter.

Outreach teams have now responded to every known encampment within the city and have been able to provide shelter to every single person seeking warm shelter. On Sunday night, outreach teams were able to secure shelter for every person at an encampment on West Brady St. under the I-244 bridge as well.

Some residents have tried to purchase fire pits and firewood and have been unloading these items at encampments, discouraging those experiencing homelessness to seek shelter. These efforts are also causing fire dangers. Officials are asking residents to allow the outreach teams to do their job so everyone can stay safe and seek shelter during this extreme weather as hypothermia and frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes.  There are multiple shelters available to those experiencing homelessness.

Shelters in operation include:

• The City’s Overflow Shelter at the former Juvenile Justice Detention Center
• Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, 415 W. Archer St.
• John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave.
• Salvation Army, 102 N. Denver Ave.

On Monday, Gov. Kevin Stitt encouraged all Oklahomans to stay off the roads as conditions deteriorate and to conserve energy where possible due to historic demand levels.

“State and local crews are working around-the-clock to clear the roads as quickly as possible,” said Stitt. “Please stay home if you can to allow them to work more effectively and consider lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees or cooler and avoid using large appliances like your washer and dryer. Oklahomans take pride in helping their neighbors and we can make a big difference by taking a few small steps together.”

Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) said residents can conserve gas with this adjustments:

• Keep warm, not hot – if you’re too warm in your residence, turn your heat down
• Turn the heat down on your hot water tank – this will help gas usage with little impact on the customer
• Hold off doing chores that involve using gas appliances until temperatures rebound.

For more ways on how to conserve gas, visit www.oklahomanaturalgas.com

Stitt asked state agencies not providing essential services to work from home through Wednesday.

Stitt issued a state of emergency February across all 77 Oklahoma counties and clearing the way for state and local agencies to provide mutual aid in accordance with the State Emergency Operations Plan.

Part of that plan includes:

• Bottled water for communities with water main breaks that impact water supply.
• Plowing and treating state highways.
• Highway Patrol responding to collisions and motorist assistance. As of Sunday, the OHP had responded to one fatality crash, 24 injury collisions, 56 non-injury wrecks and 116 motorists assists.
• Members of the Oklahoma National Guard are helping the OHP.
• The Oklahoma State Department of Health is monitoring medical facilities, patient transport, and COVID-19 vaccine integrity.

All snow equipment was working as it should as of Monday morning. Crews will work through the night to get snow cleared from arterial roadways. Officials want motorists to allow for at least 150 feet between their vehicle and a snow plow.

Trash pickup

Due to the storm, there was no trash pickup Monday and recycling will not be pick up through Thursday, February 18. No announcement has been made when trash pickup will resume.

Water pipes

Since the onset of the cold weather, City crews have responded to more than 50 residential frozen water pipe calls.

To protect water pipes from extreme cold:

• Turn your faucets in a position that allows them to slowly drip consistently
• Open cabinet doors below faucets allowing warm air to contact the pipes – this is especially important for faucets located on walls that are on the outside perimeter of your home
• If you normally store cleaning supplies in these cabinets, it’s important to relocate them to a safe storage spot that children and pets cannot access

Freezing Water Safety  

Residents should stay off freezing bodies of water, as the ice isn’t thick enough to safely support someone. Parents should take extra caution to ensure children are not trying to play on things like frozen pools, ponds, lakes and streams. Things like ice fishing and ice skating are not safe in these conditions on bodies of water that have just frozen over.

Winter Weather Preparedness

If someone has to get out, officials said to make sure a vehicle is prepared with a winter car kit and that the gas tank is full. The Tulsa Fire Department recommends against travel in these winter weather conditions, as the temperatures are potentially lethal if you aren’t properly prepared. If someone has to get out, make sure they bring extra clothing and a cell phone that is fully charged.

Frostbite Prevention

Residents who do not have to go outside should stay indoors. With temperatures dipping below zero and windchills well below zero, it only takes 15-30 minutes for exposed skin to develop frostbite. It’s vitally important to wear multiple layers when outside and cover any exposed skin with things like gloves, hats, face masks, goggles, etc. If you will be traveling, even for a short distance, bring extra clothing and blankets with you. In the chance your car breaks down or gets stuck and you have to walk, being unprepared could be deadly.

Check On the Elderly

Don’t wait for elderly family members or neighbors to ask for help. Be proactive and ask what you can do to help. Call or check in on them to make sure they have adequate and safe heating sources in their home. If absolutely necessary, ask what errands, if any, you could help them with. 

Snow and ice-covered driveways present a slipping hazard, so helping neighbors get their mail is advised, as well as helping shovel snow off of driveways.

Check Your Smoke Detectors

TFD asks residents to check smoke detectors to ensure they are operating properly. It’s also recommended residents purchase and install a carbon monoxide detector if they do not currently have one, as many heaters run off of natural gas.

Space Heater & Heating Safety

Though space heaters can be useful, they can be dangerous if not used in a safe manner.  Space heater usage guidelines:

• Keep it at least 3 feet from all combustible items
• Plug it directly into the wall without using extension cords
• Only one heater should be plugged into each outlet
• Only use electric space heaters – no gas-fueled heaters should be used indoors
• Never leave a space heater unattended (children and pets can easily knock them over causing fires)

Do not use ovens or stoves as heating devices, especially appliances that utilize gas. These can create a carbon monoxide danger in your home.

Generator Safety

If you lose power and plan to utilize a portable generator, the generator should always be operated on the exterior of your home. It is important to keep them away from windows or any other places that would facilitate the fumes entering your home.

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.

Tulsa Snow and 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.  Crews are assigned to 35 specific routes totaling 1,770 lane-miles. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts.

Waterline breaks

On Monday, the City was working on more than 40 waterline breaks. Eight crews were working  along with an additional six crews from  emergency contractor.

Some repairs will take longer due to the cold temperatures. Drivers should be aware of areas where there are orange cones and other traffic devices, as many of these are areas in the road where the waterline was repaired, but the road has not yet been repaired.