Useful contact information Follow us on Twitter @cityofokc Follow the Twitter conversation at #okwx Get info through the City's Facebook Fan Page Accident Tracking Power outages OG&E 405-272-9595 or toll free at 1-800-522-6870   Road conditions ODOT 888-425-2385 Pipe burst City of OKC Utilities 297-3334

Regional snow routes

The map below shows the City's designated regional snow routes. Sixteen cities, four counties and numerous state agencies in the metro joined together to develop a comprehensive snow route for the entire region, from Lexington to Guthrie and Yukon to Harrah.

• Regional Snow Routes (PDF, full map)
• METRO Transit winter weather information
• Will Rogers World Airport departure information

Winter weather related videos from City Channel 20

• Protecting Your Pipes in Winter Weather (video)
• Winter Weather Driving Tips (video)
• Regional Snow Routes (video)
• Winter Weather Response (video)
• Using Generators (video)

Winter weather tips for your home and vehicle

As winter weather approaches Oklahoma City residents need to be prepared. Families can take actions now that will help prevent unneeded hardships and possible life-threatening situations as hazardous cold weather approaches.

Residents can prepare for the winter storm by taking the following precautions:

• Prepare for possible isolation in your home.  Ensure you have enough food to sustain your family for at least 72 hours.
• Make sure everyone in your home has a warm coat, gloves and hat.
• Check on elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
• If you have to drive, travel along a Regional Snow Route. 
• Keep your gas tank full.
• Keep your cell phone charged.
• If temperatures remain below freezing for a day or more, leave a faucet dripping so water won’t freeze in the pipes and open cabinet doors below sinks.  If your pipes burst, call 297-3334.

Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your home

• Three-day supply of water (one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and hygiene).
• Three-day supply of non perishable, high-energy food and a manual can opener.
• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.
• Flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Extra warm clothing, including boots, mittens, and a hat.
• Copies of important documents (birth certificate, title/deed to home, insurance policies, etc) in a water-proof container.

Make sure your elderly loved ones/neighbors are prepared for the storm. The ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age, and older people are more susceptible to health problems caused by the cold.  For anyone over  65 years of age, place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoor location where you or they can check it or see it frequently.

Residents who are on an oxygen generator make sure you’ve contacted your oxygen supplier for extra oxygen tanks in case there’s a power outage and the oxygen generator quits.

Also, if your medications are running low and you might need a refill, do it today and tomorrow.

Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your vehicle

• 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

Make a Winter Storm Plan

• Be prepared to shelter at home in case of severe weather.  Have additional food and water stored to last seven to fourteen days.
• Have extra blankets on hand.
• Ensure that each member of your household has easy access to a warm coat, gloves, a hat and water-resistant boots.
• Assemble a disaster supplies kit for your home and vehicle.
• Have your vehicle winterized before the weather gets severe.
• Decide how you would communicate with your family members should you be separated and unable to travel when a winter storm hits.

Be Informed

• Learn how you would receive information from local officials should hazardous winter weather affect your neighborhood.
• Know the difference between a winter storm watch (a winter storm is possible in your area) and a winter storm warning (a winter storm is headed for your area).

If the Power Goes Out

• Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
• Use items in the refrigerator first, then freezer, then non-perishable foods.
• Use safe alternative heating methods. DO NOT use candles or gas stoves.
• Use generators correctly – If you have a portable generator and the power goes out, always plan to keep the generator outdoors. Never operate it inside, including the basement, garage, carport or near any open windows. Connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
• Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring.

Walking in ice and snow

• Use a melting solution or rock salt to clear all walkways of any ice and snow.
• If you shovel your walkways or driveways, pace your work and take frequent breaks.
• Wear rubber-soled shoes or boots to get better traction.
• Take slower, shorter steps when walking on ice and snow.
• Use a handrail when walking on stairways or inclines.

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.

Fueling Automobiles

• Maintain at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle during colder weather.
• Static electricity can ignite gasoline fumes. When fueling during cold, dry weather, touch your vehicle with your hand before touching the fuel pump to dissipate any possible static electricity you may have in your body.
• Do not re-enter your vehicle during fueling since sliding across the seat and floorboard can generate static electricity.
• Do not use a cell phone while fueling your automobile.
• Turn off the engine while fueling.

Safety Tips in the Home

• Make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms properly installed in your home. Alarms should be installed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area. Test your smoke alarms monthly and install fresh batteries annually. 
• Give space heaters their space; keep combustible material at least three feet away from the heater.
• Keep all combustible materials off of floor furnaces.
• Remove any combustibles from central heater closets.
• Use a metal grate to hold the logs inside the fireplace.
• Use an approved metal or glass screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers from flying out of the firebox.
• Remember to open the damper before lighting the fireplace.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.

Safety tips outside the home

• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle, generator, or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• Only use barbecue grills – which can produce CO – outside. Never use them in the home, garage, or near building openings as a heat source.

Portable Generator Safety Tips

• Always read and follow the manufacturer's operating and instructions before running generator.
• Engines emit carbon monoxide. DO NOT run generator in enclosed area.
• Use your generator outdoors only, away from open windows, vents, or doors. Never use your generator inside homes, garages, crawl spaces, or other enclosed areas. Fumes that can kill you can build up in these areas. Using a fan and opening doors or windows does NOT provide enough fresh air.
• Use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector when running your generator.
• Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable, allow engine to cool at least 2 minutes before refueling. Always use fresh gas in your generator. If you do not plan to use your generator in 30 days, stabilize the gas with fuel stabilizer.
• Maintain your generator according to the maintenance schedule for peak performance and safety.
• DO NOT operate the generator near combustible materials.
• When using extension cords, be sure they are of the grounded type and are rated for the application. Coiled cords can get HOT, always uncoil cords and lay them in flat open locations.
• If you are connecting a generator into your home electrical system, have a qualified electrician install a Power Transfer Switch. Never plug your generator directly into your home outlet.
• Protect your generator from exposure to rain and snow. Generators produce powerful voltage; DO NOT operate under wet conditions.