Several rounds of snow and dangerously low temperatures are affecting Oklahoma City and is expected to continue through the week. This is an update on city services and some of our partners for Feb. 18.

Streets

At least one lane in each direction has been cleared by City crews along City snow routes. Plows and salt spreaders do not clear neighborhood streets.

City street crews driving 25 trucks with snowplows and salt spreaders are working around the clock. Crews will continue to plow the City’s snow routes until conditions improve. Contractors are on stand-by until the next round of snow starts to move through OKC. Salt is not being applied to streets because it is less effective in low temperatures.

There are 8,500 lane miles* in Oklahoma City, of that 1,800 lane miles are on snow routes. Neighborhood streets are not part of the snow routes and will not be treated. 

People are encouraged to avoid driving during hazardous conditions. If you must drive you should have someone to call in case you are stranded. If you get stranded, try to move your car off the road so other vehicles can safely pass.

 

Public Works has more than 9,000 tons of salt on hand, which is more than needed to treat City streets during this storm.

People can get updates at okc.gov/ice.

*A lane mile is a mile of roadway in a single driving lane.

Airports

Four carriers operating at WRWA were able to get early flights out this morning before 9 a.m. and cancellations were reduced significantly throughout the day, good steps toward helping airlines recover from successive winter storms. Flights to/from DFW and Houston airports are still being affected by winter weather, but OKC did see a minimal number of departures to DFW and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport.

 

Travelers should still monitor their scheduled flights closely. Please subscribe to direct notifications from your airline for the quickest and most reliable updates regarding your flight.

Will Rogers World Airport is still encouraging our tenants and partners on WRWA property to take any steps they can to reduce energy usage. Two of our critical facilities, the Aircraft Rescue and FireFighting (ARFF) Station at 6921 S. Meridian and the Car Rental Center at 5201 S. Meridian, remain at lowered temperatures. The airport’s diesel generator is being used intermittently during the day to power the airport terminal at 100%.

Utilities – Water, trash and recycling
Crews continue to work around the clock to repair main breaks and leaks. Over the past 24 hours, we have had 19 main breaks and major leaks and continue to respond to hundreds of service calls. Currently, we have 2 main breaks under repair … one near the OU Medical Center and the other in The Village.

The water booster station that was out of service yesterday is back in service and pressure is improving in the area from Wilshire to NW10 and Sara Rd to Portland.  

We were able to increase the capacity at the Hefner water treatment plant last night by temporarily repairing a treatment component that was out of service for repair. The additional capacity provided enough water to put the booster station back in service.

Our current water demand is still double our typical winter usage. Last week our late-night demand was just over 50 MG … last night the lowest water demand was over 140 MG. The average daily flow during the winter is about 75 MGD. We are currently treating 175 MGD.

Therefore, water pressure in most areas of the city is still below normal, but improving slowly.

Some areas of the city have higher pressures than others, because of their proximity to the treatment plants and booster stations. We are not redirecting water from one area to another.

To increase the system pressure and restore normal service levels, we need to reduce the demand. A high percentage of the demand is directly related to customers running their faucets to keep their pipes from freezing.

To reduce the demand, people should consider running faucets only on exterior walls and just enough to keep the pipes from freezing. If they don’t have exterior wall plumbing, a couple of interior faucets running should keep the service line from freezing.  Generally, a stream about the size of a pencil lead should work.

Trash, recycling and bulky waste collection has been postponed due to ongoing weather concerns. The new schedule is as follows: Trash and recycling collection for Monday, Feb.  15 is moved to Saturday, Feb. 20. Tuesday trash and recycling collection is moved to Sunday, Feb. 21. Normal operations will resume for Thursday and Friday trash and recycling collection.

Customers who have bulky waste collection this week are asked to put their items to the curb no later than 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. Bulky waste operations will work Thursday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 21. Customers are asked to leave any bulky items in a visible location along the curb and make sure it is not covered by snow. 

The snow may cause additional limbs to fall from trees. If this happens, please set them out with your regular bulky waste. All regular bulky waste rules will apply.

ONG

At this time, we are not experiencing any significant system issues or outages.

Our focus remains on maintaining and monitoring our system to prevent any widespread outages.

As we have stated, such prolonged below-freezing temperatures have resulted in much higher natural gas use and a significant increase in natural gas market prices.

It’s important that customers know that our company does not set the price that we pay for gas. We purchase the gas from suppliers and deliver it to customers’ homes. The customer’s bill includes both the cost for our service to deliver gas to the customer’s home and the cost of gas used. We do not mark up the price for the gas.

These events will have an impact on customer bills. Unfortunately, we cannot quantify what the impact will be from this winter storm just yet.

We will be working with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on options related to the impact to customer bills associated with the current price spikes in natural gas and are committed to working with our customers to help them find alternatives for paying their bill.

At this time, customers should stay focused on conserving energy, which also helps minimize the amount of their bill. 

EMBARK

EMBARK bus service has implemented a plan to run reduced service levels on Friday February 19.  The service levels will be equivalent to weekend service, which is one-hour frequency on most routes operating from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Additional frequency and routes may be added back during the day as road conditions improve.  Normal service is expected to resume Saturday.   EMBARK bus transportation from the Willard Center and Homeless Alliance to the municipal warming center at Red Andrews Park will continue.  Public Transit is free for any resident needing transportation to a warming center or shelter.

EMBARK Plus ADA Transportation will maintain normal service.  EMBARK Plus customers are asked to call their destination to verify they are open before making the trip. EMBARK Mobility Management Services are suspended.

OKC STREETCAR has temporarily suspended operation of the streetcar vehicles to conserve electricity during low ridership and extreme weather conditions putting demands on energy supply.   Shuttle van service is being provided for anyone at a streetcar platform attempting to use the system.

PARKING   The Civic Center Parking Garage and Arts District Parking garages are open but elevators are inoperable.  Residents using on street metered parking are encouraged to use the mobile payment app, found at parkingokc.com, to pay for their parking transaction from the warmth of their vehicle.

Get the latest updates on EMBARK winter weather delays and cancelations.

Parks and Recreation

The Parks Department has closed all its public facilities, Will Rogers Gardens, and Martin Park Nature Center and will reopen Thursday, February 18, weather permitting. Virtual Academy, which is held at multiple community centers will be closed until Thursday, February 18. Parents will be notified if the closure is extended to Friday. 

 

Municipal Courts

Court sessions have been canceled for Thursday, Feb 18 and Friday, Feb 19. If you cannot attend your scheduled court date at any time due to the road conditions or weather, please call (405) 297-3898 to reschedule.

 

EMSA

 As of noon Thursday, February 18^th, EMSA has responded to the following weather-related incidents in our Western Division Service Area (Oklahoma City Area):

 

7 Cold Exposure Calls (6 transports)

1 Carbon Monoxide Incident

 

Today, EMSA has seen a substantial increase in call volume – especially slips and falls as people venture outside and an unprepared to walk on icy surfaces. Many neighborhood streets are still difficult for ambulances to navigate, but EMSA remains committed to getting to our patients as quickly and safely as possible.

 

Our medics are still very concerned about cold exposure and hypothermia calls because of freezing temperatures and recent snowfall. Residents who need to go outside for any amount of time for any reason, they should be dressed appropriately with proper footwear (tight fitting shoes with grip/traction). 

  

People experiencing Homelessness

Unfortunately, we appear to have our first cold related death. A male in his 50s was found near Reno and May earlier today and appears to have died from exposure. We are doing everything we can to shelter people who are experiencing homelessness. If you see someone living outside, please call 911 or Homeless Alliance.

A daytime warming center is open from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 through Friday, Feb. 19 at  Municipal Gym in Red Andrews Park, 720 NW 8. Parks and Recreation employees are staffing the center.

 

The Homeless Alliance Day Shelter (1729 NW 3rd) will remain open 7-days a week for the next two weeks from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pets are welcome and no ID is required.

 

Those needing shelter overnight can go to Willard Winter Shelter, 1400 NW 3. Hours are 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. Pets are welcome, and nobody will be turned away. If the shelter reaches capacity, guests will be transported to another location that will provide backup capacity.  

 

The Salvation Army (1001 N. Pennsylvania) will be providing winter shelter for women & women with children 24/7 throughout the storm.

 

The NE OKC Community & Cultural Center (3815 N Kelley) and Joe's Addiction (1725 SE 59) will be open 24-hrs/day.

 

Those wanting to make donations or volunteer should follow homeokc, Homeless Alliance, Salvation Army, City Rescue Mission and the other organizations previously listed on social media.

 

City owned lakes closed

All City-owned lake and pond surfaces are temporarily closed to prevent people and their pets from walking out on the ice. This closure prohibits fishing, boating, walking, skating, or any other activity in, or on the surface of a lake and pond.  Unless posted otherwise, the park grounds are not affected by this closure. People who refuse to leave may be subject to a trespassing citation.

 

Police

If you are forced to abandon your vehicle, do not leave it in within a lane of traffic or within an intersection. Park it legally off the road or in a parking lot. Officers will use discretion and will not tow your vehicle unless it is a hazard and would likely cause an accident if not removed.

 

Vehicles left on the road in the designated show routes will be towed to allow snowplows to pass. All abandoned vehicles left on the roadway will be checked for occupants. Unoccupied abandoned vehicles, that have been checked, will be marked by a noticeable piece of yellow or blue tape. There is no need to report an abandoned vehicle that has been marked by yellow or blue tape.  Stranded residents that may need shelter, whether homeless or not, can be reported by calling 911 to check their welfare.  

 

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged and carry a charger or external battery for your cell phone. If you experience vehicle problems or get stuck, call someone capable of helping with the situation such as a tow truck or 911. 

 

Power outages should be reported to the respective utility and do not need to be reported to 911. 

 

Fire

Talk to your children about saying off frozen lakes and ponds. We should never consider it safe to get on icy bodies of water in Oklahoma. Continue to use extreme caution with all heat sources. OKCFD responded to four fires within the last three days caused by heaters being placed under homes to keep pipes warm. Ensure that you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. If you live in OKC and need a new smoke alarm, OKCFD provides and installs those free of charge. Call 405-316-2337 to schedule your installation.

 

Animal Welfare

If it is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

• Towel dry your pet immediately after they come inside, paying attention to their paws and stomach.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

• Dog houses without insulation are not enough to protect dogs from hypothermia. Freezing drinking water also poses a risk to pets.

OKCPS

Due to the ongoing impacts of our winter weather, OKCPS will continue with ASYNCHRONOUS Remote Learning for ALL students on Thursday and Friday, February 18th and 19th. This means that teachers will continue to have assignments available for all students to complete at their own pace and their own through Canvas. 

 

We realize that our families and staff may be experiencing internet, power and/or water outages, and we are hopeful that continuing with asynchronous learning for Thursday and Friday will allow families much needed flexibility. We simply ask that students log in and complete assignments if and when they can. 

 

In addition to providing much-needed flexibility, our asynchronous schedule will allow OKCPS to honor our city leaders’ request for the community to conserve energy by avoiding having more than 30,000 students and 2,500 teachers consuming energy for the same eight hours over two days. Meanwhile, district teams will use the next few days to visit our school sites and continue repairing any damage that may have been caused by low temperatures and winter weather.

 

As we look ahead to next week, OKCPS has also made the decision to make next Monday, February 22, an ASYNCHRONOUS Learning Day for all students. This will provide our district maintenance crews with the opportunity to make sure classrooms are ready for students, and it will allow flexibility for our staff members who had an opportunity to sign-up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the state’s mega-POD on Monday. Asynchronous learning on Monday means that teachers will once again have assignments available for all students to complete at their own pace and their own through Canvas. 

 

We plan to resume our regular A/B schedule for in-person learning on Tuesday, February 23.

 

OKCPS Curbside Meal Service is still suspended for Thursday and Friday and all district-sponsored activities have been cancelled as well. We do, however, expect our Curbside Meal Service and all district-sponsored activities to resume on Monday, February 22. 

 

The 2-1-1 HeartLine is open 24/7 for help with counseling, food pantries, housing, health resources, child care, caregiver support, financial programs and other supports during this difficult time. As always, please call 911 for emergencies.

 

All district facilities will be closed and OKCPS staff will be working from home on Thursday and Friday. Our school sites will also be closed on Monday as staff work from home. During this time, schools and some offices will not be able to answer phones, so families will need to use email or the parent portal to connect with school staff. 

 

District officials will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate any adjustments to our plans through social media, phone and text messages and on OKCPS.org.  

 

Thank you for your continued support of OKCPS. Please stay safe and warm.

 

Winter weather tips to help you prepare for the storm:

 

Stay on snow routes

Stay home if you can. If you must drive, stay on the City’s snow routes. Visit www.okc.gov/prepare to see the regional snow route map.

 

Give plow/salt trucks space

Keep about 200 feet between your vehicle and salt/plow trucks.

 

Accident tracker

Residents can view injury and noninjury accidents on OKC roads by logging on to the City’s accident tracker at www.okc.gov

 

Protect Your Pipes

Open cabinet doors below sinks and let faucets drip if temperatures remain below freezing for a day or more. Call (405) 297-3334 if your pipes burst so City crews can shut off water to your home.  Watch this video about protecting your pipes in winter weather.

 

Keep necessities on-hand

Items for winter storms to add to your disaster kit include additional non-perishable food and water for one or two weeks, extra blankets, coats, gloves, winter hats, and water-resistant boots. Get extra medication, oxygen or other medical supplies if it's possible you'll need a refill before the storm's effects are over.

 

Turn off sprinklers

Home and business owners are asked to turn off sprinkler systems when the temperature drops below freezing to keep city streets from icing over.

 

Check on your neighbors

Make sure elderly family members, friends and neighbors are prepared for the storm, and check on them during and after the storm.

 

Power outages
Keep your cell phone charged in case of a power outage. Residents can report power outages at www.oge.com

 

Safely Use Alternative Heating Sources

Fires at home are common in the winter because of improper use of dangerous heating sources. Here are some tips from the Fire Department:

• Make sure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed in your home. Alarms should be installed inside each sleeping area, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test your smoke alarms monthly and install fresh batteries twice per year when the time changes.
• Space heaters need space. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn (furniture, bedding, curtains, etc.) Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Keep all combustible materials away from floor furnaces.
• Remove any combustibles from central heater closets.
• Use a metal grate to hold logs inside fireplaces. Use an approved metal or glass screen in front of fireplaces to prevent embers from flying out of the firebox and into the home.
• Ensure the fire in the fireplace is completely extinguished before going to bed.
• Have fireplaces inspected and/or cleaned annually by a qualified chimney sweep specialist.
• Do not place hot fireplace ashes into dumpsters. Place ashes into a sealed metal container and store well away from the home for several days before final disposal.
• Remember to open the damper before lighting the fireplace.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Use portable generators outside and well away from the home. Position so that fumes and deadly carbon monoxide will not enter the home through doors, windows, or vents.

Dress for the conditions.

Dressing in layers is key, as it not only keeps you warm but allows you to adjust to changing temperatures. Proper gloves, socks and footwear are essential. Choose headwear that keeps your head and ears warm.  Ski masks can also help to warm your neck and warm the air you’re breathing.

 

Energy saving tips from ONG

Oklahoma Natural Gas encourages customers to practice simple energy-saving tips and conservation efforts to manage their winter heating bills.  

• Keep warm, not hot When possible wear additional layers of clothing, consider turning down your thermostat and check your programmable settings.
• Seal leaks around doors and windows Apply weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to stop air leaks and prevent energy loss. If that is not an option, you can also cover windows with towels, sheets or plastic to help keep the warm air in your house. 
• Reduce the temperature on your water heater Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or put it on the “warm” setting. If your home will be vacant for two days or more, set the dial to the pilot position for even more savings. 
• Close blinds and curtains This helps keep warm air inside, especially if the sun is not shining.
• Change or clean filters  A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment.
• Hold off on doing chores Doing laundry and washing dishes can both use natural gas to heat the water and your dryer. If you can, wait until the extreme cold weather passes to complete these activities. If you cannot wait, use the cold setting where possible.
• Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets Electrical switches and outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.

 

Additionally, remember these safety tips: 
 

• Never use your stove or oven for home heating.
• Make sure nothing obstructs a furnace’s air intake and that vents and flues are intact and unblocked to avoid the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning.  
• When removing ice and snow in the vicinity of meters, vents or flues, do so carefully so as not to cause damage.
• Leave cabinet doors open, especially those on exterior walls, to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.

 

Winter Driving

• If possible, avoid driving while streets are covered in ice and snow.
• Have your vehicle winterized by a qualified mechanic.
• Make sure your tires have adequate tread for the conditions.
• Reduce speeds.
• Fill up your gas tank.
• Allow more time to slow down and stop.
• Allow more space between you and the car in front of you.
• Be sure to use your headlights so your car is visible during inclement weather.
• Watch this video with winter driving tips

 

Winter Weather Vehicle Emergency Preparedness Kit

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
• Compass and road maps
• Shovel
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Flares
• Extra clothing to keep dry and gloves
• Sack of sand or cat litter (for tire traction
• Tow rope