Green Country cities respond to winter weather

TULSA, Okla. — Cities across Green Country are working to keep people safe in dangerously cold temperatures.

Tulsa

Street crews are turning their focus toward pothole repairs as many city streets are in good shape at this time. Water and Sewer crews are on 24/7 operations as they respond to the record number of waterline breaks occurring in Tulsa as a result of the extremely cold temperatures.

Snow & Ice Response

Snow quickly melted today on arterial streets throughout the city as the sun was out Thursday.

Pothole repairs will commence Friday in areas where potholes have appeared due to the weather conditions.

Some crews will be on standby over the weekend to address emergency pothole repairs. To report potholes in Tulsa, residents can call 311 on business days

Waterline Break Updates

Throughout the duration of this winter weather event, the City has responded to a total of 254 broken waterlines and has been able to repair 92 of those. There are currently 161 active breaks, with 111 that have had the water turned off. There are currently 1,600 residential customers and 132 businesses affected by service interruptions as the result of water being turned off.

Crews will work 24/7 until the waterline situation improves. Due to the unprecedented cold weather and number of breaks, residents are being asked to conserve water.

Tips to conserve water include:

• Don’t use high water-usage appliances, such as your dishwasher and washing machine
• Refrain from taking baths and long showers
• Keep your water usage to consumption only, such as for cooking, getting drinking water, using the toilet, and letting the water drip to keep it circulating in your pipes

Water Stations Open

For impacted customers who need potable water, River Spirit Expo and ALL Tulsa Fire Stations are available. Customers must bring their own containers.

Details are as follows:

• River Spirit Expo Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Tulsa Fire Stations Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Masks are required at both the Expo and the fire stations
• If you’re at a fire station, please be patient, as many firefighters are working on high levels of calls for service - To access the expo, enter from the south main lobby at Gate 2 - Parking will be available near the Tulsa Golden Driller
• For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 and do not show up at a fire station

Protect Your Pipes

• To protect your water pipes from extreme cold, you should:
• Turn on the furthest faucet away from your street and let it drip – this will allow for water to circulate in your system and decrease the chance for your water to freeze in your pipes
• 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
• Locate your home’s water shutoff valve in case first responders need to respond and quickly find it

If water is not flowing out of your pipes, you should:

• Leave faucets open and make sure your cabinets are open
  • Leaving faucets open makes sure you can expedite the thawing process
• Apply a safe heating source facing the walls with the frozen pipes in them to warm them up
  • Never use a blowtorch or an open flame device to warm your pipes
  • Make sure your heating source is away from any flammable materials
• Call a plumber if running water does not flow to your pipes in a reasonable amount of time – if the pipe is located on an exterior wall, it’s imperative to act swiftly

Refuse & Recycling Update

City crews are working to catch up on refuse collection, including working on Saturday. There will be no bulky waste or recycling services through the end of the week. Bulky waste and recycling services are expected to resume on Monday, Feb. 22. Previously scheduled bulky waste pickups will be picked up next week on your regular service day, so put it at the curb with your cart.

Broken Arrow

The city continues to monitor winter weather forecast for our area including extreme temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

The City of Broken Arrow continues monitoring the winter weather forecast for our area including extreme temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

Shelters and Warming Stations

• The Public Safety Complex lobby and front classrooms are open as a warming shelter for stranded motorists to shelter while they are waiting to be picked up or waiting for a tow truck.
  • Address: 1101 N. 6^th Street, Broken Arrow, OK.
• Central Park Community Center will be open for use as a warming shelter during normal hours, for those who may be out of power or are needing to get out of the cold.
  • Address: 1500 S. Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK. Hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.

• Broken Arrow Police Department has been working with our Chaplain group and the Red Cross to open several overnight shelters at local churches. Several churches are on standby.
• Residents in the metro area can call 211 for shelter and transportation resources or call 911 for emergencies.

Street Clearing Response

The city has 14 trucks and plows with spreaders actively clearing roads. Streets department personnel will continue working on shifts throughout the weather event. Arterial and collector roadways, along with the hospital and public safety are the top priorities.

A standby crew is ready for response to any traffic signal problems, fallen trees and debris removal on public streets. Fleet mechanics are available for the trucks as needed.

Link to snow plowing priority map

Trash Pick Up

Due to extreme temperatures and anticipated snow accumulations, all pickup days this week will temporarily change.

Monday customers will now be picked up Thursday. Tuesday customers will be picked up Friday. Wednesday customers will be picked up Saturday, and Thursday customers will be picked up Monday, February 22nd. Next week's schedule will slide one full day from normal schedule. This schedule could change based on weather conditions.

Customers are encouraged to hold their recycling until the weather improves. Any recycling that is set out this week will be processed with general refuse. Safety is our number one concern during solid waste collection this week.

Waterline breaks

Crews responded to five water break calls Monday. Weekend, holiday, and overnight water line breaks should be reported to the Police non-emergency line at 918-259-8400. During business hours, residents may call the Action Center at 918-258-3587.

Public Safety

Police and fire departments are responding to winter weather related calls including motorist assistance. Safety reminders for residents: stay inside if possible, dress in layers when you must go out, pack a winter weather safety kit in your vehicle, bring pets inside, stay off bodies of water, take precautions to prevent freezing pipes, operate space heaters and generators safely, check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and check on your neighbors and loved ones.

Bixby

Bixby first responders said they are thankful the public for avoiding travel! This has not only resulted in keeping first responders safe, but also in little incidences on the roadways.

Travel is still HIGHLY discouraged! Crews continue 24/7 plow services, however, with extremely low temperatures, drivers can be placed in dangerous and life-threatening situations should they become stranded.

While main arterial roadways remain passable at this present time, drivers should be aware of slick patches and snow-packed exterior lanes and drive very patiently. Many entrances to neighborhoods, businesses, and parking lots remain snow-packed and ALL vehicles should utilize caution. If you must travel, ensure you have warm clothing and a cell phone charged and available should you become stranded.

Bartlesville

City crews continue to work in rotating shifts to help clear intersections and main arterials. All trucks are out. The sand and salt mixture used to treat roadways is still in good supply. "We still have plenty of material," Public Works Director Keith Henry said this morning. Please use caution when driving, and stay home if you can.

Trash trucks are running today as conditions allow. Monday customers should have their trash out for collection today due to the Presidents Day holiday on Monday.

CityRide is closed. The program is scheduled to resume at 1 p.m. tomorrow, weather permitting.

The recycle center is closed.

Adams Golf Club is closed.

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