A round of snow and dangerously low temperatures is forecast to begin this weekend and continue through next week in Oklahoma City.
City street crews driving 25 trucks with snowplows have been working around the clock clearing snow routes. More significant snow accumulations are expected to begin late Sunday. Crews will continue to salt and plow the City’s snow routes until conditions improve.
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. Crews typically drive 200 miles in a 12-hour shift. Four contractors with snow removal equipment are on call to help with plowing efforts if needed.
People are encouraged to avoid driving during hazardous conditions. Those who must drive should have someone to call in case they are stranded. If you get stranded, try to move your car off the road so other vehicles can safely pass.
Public Works has 11,000 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.
City Services Updates:
Airports
Will Rogers World Airport crews are preparing to maintain airfields, roadways and walkways at Will Rogers World Airport. The severity of the storm is expected to cause flight cancellations and possibly even force flight operations at WRWA to close temporarily.
Delays are already being experienced due to severe winter weather conditions. Airline de-icing is taking additional time, though airline staff and contractors are working as fast as they can to keep flights moving. There have also been brief periods when airport crews have closed runways/taxiways to treat, brush or scrape surfaces.
Travelers and visitors should frequently check the status of their flight prior to coming to the airport. Most airlines offer flight updates via mobile app, text notifications or on the airline’s website.
EMBARK
EMBARK bus service has a contingency plan to run reduced service levels. 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. If the contingency plan is activated, customers will be advised by Sunday at 7 p.m. via embarkok.com and social media. 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 and OKC Streetcar will maintain normal service. EMBARK Plus customers are asked to call their destination to verify they are open before making the trip. Customers of EMBARK Mobility Management Services, catering to transportation needs for seniors, should call 405-297-2583 to check if transportation services are being provided. Get the latest updates on EMBARK winter weather delays and cancelations, and use our Rider Tools to know when the bus is coming in real-time.
Parks and Recreation
The Parks Department will close all its public facilities and Martin Park Nature Center on Saturday, Feb. 13 and reopen Wednesday Feb. 17. Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center will close on Sunday Feb. 14 and will reopen on Wednesday Feb. 17. Virtual Academy, which is held at multiple community centers will be closed Monday and Tuesday next week.
Municipal Courts
No court sessions are scheduled on Monday, Feb. 15. 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.
Utilities - Trash and Recycling Services
Trash, recycling, and bulky collection services may be affected by weather conditions next week. If they are, check okc.gov/ice for a makeup schedule.
EMSA
EMSA is prepared to respond to forecasted snow, but response times may increase due to road conditions. Please move vehicles involved in any weather-related accidents off the road so emergency vehicles can use arterial streets – abandoned vehicles often make roads impassable in significant winter storms.
People experiencing Homelessness
A daytime warming center is open from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 through Friday, Feb. 19 at Red Andrews Municipal Gym, 720 NW 8. Parks and Recreation employees will staff the center.
Those needing shelter overnight can go to Willard Winter Shelter, 1400 NW 3. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nobody will be turned away. If the shelter reaches capacity, guests will be transported to another location that will provide backup capacity. The following organizations provide overnight sheltering but are currently at or near capacity: Salvation Army, City Rescue Mission, Jesus House, Grace Rescue Mission, Sisu Youth and Pivot.
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 salt trucks space
Keep about 200 feet between your vehicle and salt 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.
Keep your pets safe
If it’s 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.
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.
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