City of Tulsa Prepared for Possible Winter Weather; Response Plan and Safety Tips

2/11/2025

The City of Tulsa is monitoring the potential for winter weather to move through the area in upcoming days. Crews are prepared to respond as conditions require.

City Of Tulsa Winter Preparedness
After a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible. These resources are available to attain this goal:

• 66 trucks mounted with salt spreaders
• Of the 66 trucks with spreaders, 55 have mounted snowplows.
• 4 trucks, mounted with plows that have Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application when appropriate
• 7 4x4 pick-up trucks equipped with snowplows
• 2 motor graders for use as plows
• 210 employees (including drivers and support staff)
• Approximately 8,000 tons of salt and still receiving material
• 2 salt brine mixing systems with 40,000 gallons of salt brine

Crews are assigned to 36 specific routes totaling approximately 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts. Once the main streets are cleared and conditions permit, selected residential streets may be treated based on traffic and steepness. Emergency response routes and additional maps are available at www.cityoftulsa.org/winterpreparedness

Warming Stations
Tulsa has several warming stations currently open for anyone seeking shelter from the cold, namely:

• John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave. - open 24-7
• The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 102 N. Denver Ave. - open 24-7
• Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St. - open 24-7

The City of Tulsa has been in conversations with area shelter providers. The City will provide more information should an emergency overflow shelter(s) be opened. Organizations interested in setting up a temporary station or temporary shelter can find information on the City of Tulsa website at https://www.cityoftulsa.org/residents/public-safety/temporary-shelter-policy/.

Additional Safety Tips
Check on Your Neighbors: Don’t wait for your elderly family members or neighbors to ask for help. Be proactive and ask what you can do to help. Call or check in on them to make sure they have adequate and safe heating sources in their home. If necessary, ask what errands, if any, you could help them with.

Bring Pets Inside: If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pets. During extreme cold weather, pet owners are asked to bring their pets inside. As a reminder, in November last year the Council approved new ordinances requiring pet owners to bring their dogs into a temperature-controlled facility when the temperature is at or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stay Informed: Download the free Tulsa Ready app, compatible with Android and iOS systems, for emergency updates and preparedness tips.

For the latest winter weather updates and road conditions, visit City of Tulsa on Facebook or learn more at www.cityoftulsa.org/weather.