Message from the City of Tulsa

From the City of Tulsa:

Tulsa has experienced widespread damage from the recent ice storm, with downed power lines and trees in all areas of the city. Power outages continue, making the situation for many more dangerous. During this emergency and in the weeks of recovery to come, there is important information neighborhoods should have. Please share this information with your neighbors, and call the Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100 to report concerns, or if you have access to the Internet report problems at www.cityoftulsa.org/Reporting/

Updates are provided on the www.cityoftulsa.org website and to the local news media. Check television, radio and newspapers for updates and status reports.

Important phone numbers to know in an emergency:

911 - Emergencies Only
211 - Community Help Line for non-emergency assistance and social services PSO outages and downed power lines - 888-218-3919 596-2100 - Mayor's Action Center, City services, tree debris blocking street or for tree debris pick up by City crews and to report other problems Additional information and important phone numbers
* Life-threatening emergency call 911.
* If you do call, do not hang up - your call will be answered in the order it was received.

Reporting Power Outage or Downed Power Lines or Utility Poles

* Call 888-218-3919 to report outage or downed line to PSO.
* Call 800-272-9741 to report outage or downed line to OG&E.
* Consider all downed power lines to be "live."
* Plan on at least seven days before all outages are resolved.

Reporting Downed Tree Limbs

Call the Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100, to report downed limbs blocking the streets. You may drag limbs to curbside for pickup. Fallen limbs in back yards are the property owner's responsibility. If the debris can be taken to the curb where City crews can be scheduled through the Mayor's Action Center to pick them up.
* Please do not move downed limbs near power lines; do not touch any tree limbs or power lines. Trees and power lines are still unstable and may fall.
* For tree limb and yard debris drop off, Tulsa residents may use the City of Tulsa Greenwaste Site at 10401 E. 56th St. N. or a temporary site now open at 7100 S. Elwood.

When walking or parking vehicles Stay away from trees in yards, neighborhoods and parks. Branches are weakened and may continue to fall.

Transportation

Traffic lights are out at many intersections. Treat all uncontrolled intersections as four-way stops.
* Tulsa Police Department is currently on Operation Slick Streets. Police will not respond to non-injury accidents. Exchange insurance information and complete an accident report. Forms are available at QuikTrips or www.tulsapolice.org.
* MTTA (bus) routes are open. Call 625-8722 for LIFT service.
* MTTA has emergency transportation available. Call 582-2100.
* When planning to travel, call Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at 888-425-2385 for road conditions.
* Those with special needs who need transportation to shelters
should call 2-1-1 for information.

Non-emergency Communications

* Call 596-9977 for Police Dept. non-emergency.
* Call 596-9222 for Fire Dept. non-emergency. Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100, for general information about City services.
* People suffering from fevers, flu, gastrointestinal or viral-type illnesses, or with special medical needs (like those who use oxygen tanks) that could worsen in coming days should call 2-1-1, the Community HelpLine, instead of 911.
* Do not seek shelter from the cold at area hospitals. For information on emergency shelters,
call 2-1-1.

Heating Safety Tips

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from alternate heat sources Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas. It is invisible, odorless and tasteless, and is produced by the burning of gasoline,
natural gas, kerosene, charcoal or wood. Unvented or faulty gas and kerosene appliances can create dangerous levels of CO in a home. Smoldering or poorly vented fireplaces, slow-burning fuels such as charcoal and vehicle exhausts also are potential indoor hazards. Take these precautions:
* Look at the color of the flame. A hot blue flame produces less CO and more heat than a flickering yellow flame. If you see yellow flames in your furnace or stove burner, it should be adjusted so that the flame is blue.
* Don't use an unvented gas or kerosene heater in closed spaces, especially sleeping areas.
* Don't use gas appliances such as an oven, range or clothes dryer to heat your home.
* Don't burn charcoal inside a house, garage, vehicle or tent for heating or cooking, even in a fireplace.
* Do not EVER operate gas generators indoors.
* Look for CO exposure symptoms including headache, dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting that can progress to disorientation, coma, convulsions and death.
* If you suspect CO poisoning, open doors and windows, turn off gas appliances, and go outside for fresh air. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
* To prevent residential fires, make sure that heaters, stoves, and fireplaces are at least three feet from anything that burns. Use screens in front of fireplaces, and do not leave children alone with space heaters.
* Never leave candles burning when you are at home or while you are sleeping.
* If a heater uses fuel such as propane or kerosene, use only that kind of fuel and add more fuel only when the heater is cool. Store all fuels outside in closed metal containers.

Food Safety Tips

Power outages present problems with food safety. If people at home or those in food establishments have had a loss of power for more than four hours, take the following precautions with refrigerated food products:
* Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
* Discard any potentially hazardous foods such as meats, eggs, dairy products and leftovers that may have exceeded 41 degrees Fahrenheit. When in doubt, throw it out.
* Frozen foods in a freezer can normally be kept up to 48 hours without power. Again, the 41 degrees Fahrenheit rule applies. A frozen product that has thawed should not be refrozen - it should be used immediately or disposed of. Thawed foods that have not reached 41 degrees Fahrenheit can be cooked and consumed.

Tulsa Police Department Burglary Basics

* Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
* If you will be leaving your home during this emergency, call a neighbor who will remain in the area and ask that they keep a watch on your home and give a number to call if anything happens to your home while you are away.
* Keep your garage door closed and locked.

If Your Home Is Broken Into

If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door
* Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be inside.
* Notify police.
* Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
* Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
* Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.
Other precautions you should take:
* Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
* Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home - this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters.
* Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.

To Discourage Burglary of your house

* Record your serial numbers. Stolen property often shows up at a pawnshop and we may be able to get your property back if we have serial numbers.
* Pay attention to your surroundings, such as people and cars in your neighborhood that don't belong.
* Keep your garage door closed.

American Red Cross Shelters

Temporary shelters have been opened in the Tulsa area to serve residents who are out of power are unable to stay in their homes.

In Tulsa
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
8730 E. Skelly Drive

First Baptist Church (at capacity)
403 S. Cincinnati Avenue

Asbury United Methodist Church
6767 S. Mingo