Tulsa City, County Officials: Be Prepared For Winter Storm

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- City and county officials held a news conference Thursday to send a message to citizens in light of the upcoming storm. Be safe, ask for help - but only if it's really needed.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett started the conference held at the Tulsa Emergency Operations Center.

"We urge everybody to stay tuned to the media but more importantly to use good common sense in how we deal with hazardous situations," Bartlett said.

He introduced several members of the Tusla City and County officials including County Commissioner Karen Keith, Sheriff Stanley Glanz, Interim Police Chief Chuck Jordan and EMSA Chief Duffy Mcanallen.

Each official pledged the help of their departments and urged citizens to use utmost caution in protecting themselves from winter hazards.

"The county road maintenance crews are staffed and ready with all the necessary materials," said County Commissioner Karen Keith.

Keith noted that the Tulsa Red Cross plans to open shelters on Friday. She also recommended citizens call 211 for help - but only if it is really needed to prevent that help line from being overwhelmed.

Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz said his department would have a lot of cars in the field ready to help. He asked the public to call his office with reports of abandoned cars.

EMSA, the Sheriff's Office and Tulsa Police will be marking cars with blue tape to show that the vehicle has already been checked and is empty, he said.

Interim Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan recommended that people stay home if they do not absolutely have to be out on the roads.

"I want to reassure you during the recent layoffs - we have a contingency plan - your level of service is not going to be going away," he said. 

Several of the public officials spoke of the hazards of using generators and other potentially dangerous appliances to heat the home in the event of power outages.

"In December in 2007, we treated over 100 people with carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't risk your health and safety by heating your home in an unsafe manner," said EMSA Chief Duffy Mcanallen. 

Tusla Mayor Dewey Bartlett also urged Tulsans to not forget their pets during the upcoming winter weather.

1/28/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Red Cross Poised To Help Storm Victims
1/27/2010 Related Story: Portable Generator Safety

The Emergency Operations Center released the following information for Tulsa County residents:

If you need referrals or information, please call the 211 community helpline for information. Do NOT call 911 unless you have a life- or limb-threatening emergency. 

If you lose electricity at home, report the outage by calling PSO at (888) 218-3919.

• Check your home first-aid kit. Items that should be included are pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin), antihistamines, bandages in assorted sizes, gauze and adhesive tape, an elastic bandage, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, antibiotic ointment and a first-aid manual. Individuals who require daily medications should make sure they have at least one week's worth of medicine on hand, too.
• If you have a chronic health condition and require dialysis, an oxygen tank or other intensive treatment, make emergency healthcare plans now, as an ice storm could cause disruptions in electrical service. Contact your primary healthcare provider, your insurance company or your medical equipment supplier for help in planning. Also, coordinate with an emergency contact who can check in on you daily.
• Check – and replace, if necessary – the batteries in all household smoke detectors. Every level of the home should have at least one working smoke detector. Smoke detectors that are wired into household electrical systems should have battery back-ups installed.
• Practice and review your home escape plan. Ensure that all family members understand how to escape in case of a fire.
• Be cautious when using candles. Keep the flame at least three feet away from cardboard, wood and other combustible objects. Also, keep candles out of the reach of children and pets, and extinguish before leaving a room or falling asleep.
• Heat your home safely. Do not attempt to use your oven or a charcoal grill to heat your home. Generators and other fuel-powered devices should never be operated inside a home or an enclosed space (such as a garage). Unsafe practices could result in a build-up of deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
• Know and watch for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. If persons in your home experience these symptoms, step outdoors, ventilate the area and call 911. Anyone who even thinks they might have carbon monoxide poisoning is urged to call 911. During the December 2007 ice storm, over 100 individuals were sickened by carbon monoxide.
• Do not touch any downed tree limbs, cables or power lines, as they may be electrically charged. Do not attempt to remove limbs yet; trees and power lines are unstable and may fall. Stay away from chain-link fences – energized power lines could activate a fence line throughout a neighborhood.
• Refrain from driving on ice-slicked roads, unless absolutely necessary. Ice and downed trees and wires could make for treacherous travel. If you must travel in inclement conditions, drive slowly and increase your stopping distance. Watch for downed trees and power lines across roads. If power fails, treat all intersections as four-way stops. Pack blankets, water, food items and a phone to take with you.
• To keep food safe during a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Discard any potentially hazardous food, including meats, eggs, dairy products and leftovers that may have exceeded 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Frozen foods in a freezer can normally be kept up to 48 hours without power.