Officials with the Oklahoma City Utilities Department are continuing to assess damage from the severe storms that impacted the metro on Sunday, Nov. 3. Following the assessment, the City will announce whether storm debris will be collected on customers' regular bulky waste pickup days or through a special storm debris collection. This announcement will include a map outlining “heavily impacted areas” eligible for the additional storm debris collection. The announcement will be made by Friday, Nov. 8.
Based upon the amount and type of damage expected to be noted during the assessment, Utilities officials anticipate the heavily impacted areas to include only a small portion of OKC. While not yet determined, the expected heavily impacted areas may include neighborhoods near Southeast 89th Street and South Sooner Road as well as Southeast 44th Street and South Triple X Road.
All residential solid waste customers who do not expect to be included in the designated heavily impacted areas (to be announced later this week) are asked to follow regular bulky waste collection guidelines. Regular bulky waste collection will continue as scheduled, and standard set-out dates and volume limits apply.
Businesses, churches, schools, HOAs, nonprofits and other organizations are not eligible for the City’s curbside bulky collection. They are responsible for arranging their own debris removal.
For more information on regular bulky waste collection, visit okc.gov/trash.
Storm Debris Collection:
- What the City will collect: Any special storm debris collection to be announced later this week will include tree limbs, branches and wooden fencing only. Customers in the designated areas will be asked to place these items at the curb for pickup.
- What the City does not collect: Homeowners are responsible for the disposal of structural debris, such as roofing, window frames, bricks and construction materials. These should be handled by a private contractor, typically through homeowner’s insurance or other resources.
- Keep storm debris separate: Do not mix storm debris with other waste at the curb, including regular bulky waste and piles to be removed by private contractors. Mixed piles will not be collected.
“Unlike storms we’ve seen in the recent past, we aren’t expecting this one to receive FEMA-level designation, which means Federal assistance won’t be available,” said Utilities Director Chris Browning. “Without that support, we have to limit storm debris collection to certain types of materials, but please know that our team is doing everything possible to make a meaningful impact with the resources we have.”
Additional Assistance for Storm-Impacted Customers:
- Water meter checks: As part of the Utilities Department’s efforts, crews are inspecting water meters in the hardest-hit areas. If meters are found to be running due to broken water lines, they will be turned off to prevent flooding and avoid unnecessary charges. For water restoration, customers should contact Utilities Customer Service (UCS).
- Perishable items disposal: If you have spoiled perishable goods due to storm-related power outages and need additional trash capacity, contact UCS. A representative will assist you in obtaining a temporary extra trash cart. There are a limited number of temporary carts available, and they must be requested by Nov. 13. It will take crews two to three business days for cart delivery, so customers are encouraged to plan accordingly. Customers will need to call UCS when the temporary cart has been filled with the perishable goods and is ready for dumping. All temporary carts will be removed as soon as possible starting on Nov. 20.
What You Can Do Now:
- Preparing debris: Whether set out as storm debris or regular bulky waste, please cut limbs and branches into lengths of 10 feet or shorter. Stack tree limbs, branches and wooden fencing separately from regular bulky waste. Ensure these items are away from mailboxes, utility poles, gas lines, water meters, trees and other obstructions.
Contact Utilities Customer Service:
For questions regarding any Utilities service, UCS representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (405) 297-2833.