Power-Up Program Going Statewide

People all over Oklahoma will be eligible for a program started by Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. She announced the program Operation Power-Up earlier this week. It allows people with damaged weather heads or meter boxes on their property to call a hotline. The city will send out an electrician and will then pay them a flat rate to fix the damaged equipment.

The Oklahoma Director of Emergency Management says FEMA has now agreed to reimburse all cities and counties 75% of those costs if they choose to participate.

"This is a pilot program. It's never been done before. There will be mistakes. We'll have to back up and make sure that it works correctly. But, we're going to make sure that we meet the need of the individual, and the real need is to get the lights back on," said Albert Ashwood, Oklahoma Director of Emergency Management.

In Tulsa the Operation Power-Up number is 866-789-8898. People outside of Tulsa should call their local emergency operations center to see if they're participating.