Oklahoma Officials Provide Update On Storm Recovery Efforts

Tulsa City Leaders say those without power in Tulsa can expect it back before Monday.

Storms left more than 200,000 people without power.

PSO says it is working around the clock to get power back on across the area and it won’t stop until all power is restored

It’s been one week since heavy winds ripped trees from the earth, shredded cables from power lines, and left a wake of debris across the Tulsa area.

PSO says with the help of 3,700 linemen – including crews from out of state – power is restored for most of its customers. Crews will continue to work until all customers are restored.

“No one will be released until we don't have work. We're working with basically through the remaining outages and we'll get everybody restored as fast as we can do so safely. No customers have been forgotten,” PSO’s Wayne Greene said.

Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker says calls in general are higher than normal, but carbon monoxide calls have decreased.

“Which is a logical progression as community members begin to receive power in their home, but still, we do have some investigation that are going on,” Baker said.

For those running a generator, Baker says to watch out for CO exposure symptoms such as a sudden onset of a headache.

“If you do have an alarm going off, please contact us we can bring specialized meters to check to see a level of your home,” Baker said.

Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) says it moved from response operations to recovery, which means there are plenty of opportunities for volunteering.

"This is everything from needing chainsaw crews to seeking assistance with food insecurity to replacing medications that may have spoiled in the heat to other needs that may or may not have recognized yet,” TAEMA’s Joseph Kralicek said.

Those interested in volunteering can visit CityOfTulsa.org/Weather and it will connect volunteers with where they are needed most.

TAEMA says it is working with FEMA to get a presidentially declared disaster for recovery efforts.