City of OKC preps for winter storm with closures, plans

Published: January 8, 2025 | Last Updated on January 9, 2025, 10:23 PM

Note: The following contains information you may need to know anytime in the winter, but the latest news about preparations for Friday, January 9 is in THIS LATER REPORT.

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OKLAHOMA CITY — The City of Oklahoma City has spent the first part of the week preparing for the winter storm expected to start rolling in on Thursday with freezing temperatures, snow, and ice.

Public Works crews will report to the City’s Central Maintenance Facility at midnight Wednesday and work 12-hour shifts until street conditions improve.

The City has 32 trucks affixed with salt spreaders and plows, ready to deploy along the City’s snow routes when snow and sleet begin.

During hazardous conditions, residents are encouraged to avoid driving and have plans to call someone to come and get them if they get stranded.

• Stay on snow routes – Stay home if you can. If you must drive, stay on the City’s snow routes. Visit 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 okc.gov.

People who are unhoused

The Winter Shelter for the Homeless Alliance is now open from 4 PM until 7 PM.

City Rescue Mission, Sisu Youth and Pivot provide overflow beds for those seeking to get out of the cold. These resources are in addition to regular capacity at overnight shelters. Details about shelters can be found at keytohomeokc.org. People working in outreach are warning people who are unhoused about the forecast.

Here is key information about shelters that will be open:

The City of Oklahoma City staff sent this information for the upcoming days:

Municipal Court closed on Thursday

Presiding Judge Philippa C. James has canceled all Oklahoma City Municipal Court sessions on Thursday, Jan. 9, due to predictions of inclement weather.

All cases will be continued without assessing a continuance fee. Defendants/attorneys will be notified of the new court date.

Contact Municipal Court for general inquiries or to make a payment by calling (405) 297-3898 or logging on to okc.gov.

OKC Recreation Centers closed Jan. 9

OKC Parks recreation centers, community centers, performing arts centers, senior centers, and gyms will be closed Thursday, January 9. All outdoor parks will be open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Martin Park Nature Center and Will Rogers Gardens will keep their regular winter hours.

EMBARK

If there is a significant accumulation of snow, ice or freezing rain, some bus routes will be detoured, and others may be canceled. It is possible buses won’t be able to serve parts of a route if the route becomes too dangerous to drive on. Before you leave, get the latest updates on delays and cancelations. Information on closures of EMBARK’s senior transportation and mobility management programs will be available by 6:30 a.m. at (405) 297-2583.

OKC Will Rogers International Airport

During inclement weather, travelers should contact their airline to check on the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.

Animal Welfare

If it is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. Dog owners must protect their dogs from the elements when the temperature dips below 32 degrees.

When left alone in freezing weather for more than 30 minutes, many dog breeds will become frostbitten and could even freeze to death. If a dog dies after exposure to extreme weather, the dog’s owner can be charged with a felony.

A dog is considered outside if it has an unheated doghouse or other unheated structure. The structure should have a safe heat source. Vehicles are not considered adequate shelter.

• 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.

Protecting your pipes

During winter weather events, some customers choose to drip their faucets to prevent pipes from freezing. If you do, special care should be taken to prevent excessive water use and to protect our vital natural resource. Here are a few tips:

• Only drip faucets on walls along the exterior of the home.
• It does not take a heavy flow of water to effectively prevent pipes from freezing. Only a small, steady drip or stream no wider than a pencil lead is needed.
• Avoid dripping faucets when temperatures rise above 32 degrees.
• Open cabinets underneath sinks to allow warm air to circulate and keep pipes warmer.
• If your house has a basement or crawl space, wrap exposed water pipes with frost- or freeze-protection wrap to insulate them against freezing.
• If you notice your pipes are frozen, use your home’s shut-off valve to shut off water to your home and allow the pipes to thaw.

Solid waste services

We do not anticipate any changes to trash, recycling or bulky waste services at this time. Customers should continue to set out their carts and bulky waste according to their regular schedule. If any service disruptions occur, the City will notify customers through a news release and updates on the City’s Facebook page.

Outdoor water lines

Here are some recommendations to try and prevent outside pipe breaks:

• If you have not done so, turn off your automatic sprinkler system so it does not turn on during the freezing weather.
• Remove garden hoses and cover outdoor water spigots.
• If you experience a water line break, shut the water off to limit the amount of excess water flow, and call Utilities Customer Service at (405) 297-2833 for assistance.

Turn off sprinklers

Residents and business owners are asked to turn off sprinkler systems when the temperature drops below freezing. Water sprayed or running onto streets and sidewalks during freezing temperatures causes hazardous conditions for pedestrians and drivers.

The City also recommends inspecting your sprinklers and irrigation systems for leaks and to confirm the system has been turned off or adjusted to prevent icy streets and sidewalks.

OG&E

All available units at OG&E’s power plants are operating and ready to support the grid during this cold snap and for the rest of the winter.

Customers can take a number of actions to help manage their energy usage during cold weather, including:

• Setting thermostats lower than usual, if your health permits.
• Open drapes and blinds during the day to allow sunlight to warm the home and close them at night to preserve warmth. 
• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional oven when possible.
• Air-dry your dishes.
• Turn off lights and appliances that you are not using.
• Unplug small appliances, phone chargers, gaming systems, etc. when not in use.

For our most vulnerable neighbors, a number of warming centers are available across OG&E’s service area. If you know someone who needs a place to stay warm, find a warming center at OGE.com/WarmingStations.

While outages are not anticipated during this weather event, should you see downed power lines, stay away from them and anything they touch. Report downed power lines or outages at 800-522-6870. To receive outage information by text, phone or email, you can sign up for myOGEalerts on OGE.com.

Oklahoma Natural Gas

Oklahoma Natural Gas is prepared to deliver natural gas safely and reliably to homes and businesses. The company’s natural gas strategy includes purchasing natural gas in the spring and summer months when the price of natural gas tends to be lower. The natural gas is then placed into storage for winter weather.

By following the tips below, people can reduce their natural gas use and lower their bills.

• Keep warm, not hot – when possible, wear additional layers of clothing and check your programmable settings.
• Hold off doing chores that involve using natural gas appliances until temperatures rebound.
• Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the “warm” setting.
• Apply weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
• Change or clean the filters on heating or air conditioning units.
• Install foam gaskets to seal outlets and electrical switches.

EMSA

In addition to an uptick in motor vehicle accident response during times of winter weather, extended severe cold weather can cause an uptick in hospitalizations. Residents with pre-existing health conditions should stay indoors and ensure any medical supplies like oxygen tanks are in adequate supply. Oxygen tanks should also be stored indoors, as colder oxygen can be hard to breathe. For more safety tips from EMSA, visit https://emsaonline.com/safetyresources/winter/.

Winter weather tips to help you prepare for storms

Keep necessities on-hand
Items for winter storms to add to your disaster kit include extra 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.

Check on your neighbors
Check on elderly family members, friends and neighbors before, during and after storms. Don’t wait for them to ask for help.

Cell phones
Keep your cell phone charged in case of a power outage.

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 and pressure 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.

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