Hundreds Of Tulsans Respond To Call For Volunteers
Hundreds of volunteers responded to a call to action from Mayor Kathy Taylor as part of 'Operation Power Up!' – an aggressive plan using volunteers, Tulsa firefighters, city staff, independent electricians and PSO workers to ensure power is restored to all Tulsa residences before December 25.
At 1 p.m. Sunday (12/16), volunteers reporting to three bases were dispatched to 10 command posts to spread through the geographical areas that were hardest hit. Each team covered a five-square mile area, going door-to-door to request permission to enter citizens’ backyards to check lines, assess potential weatherhead damage, remove debris around the lines and conduct minor structural repairs that may prevent reconnection. By clearing away the debris, volunteer and contract electricians will be able to access and repair the electric boxes more quickly.
'The most important thing we need to do right now is speed up the process of repairing the weatherheads at individual homes so that everyone can have power within a week, rather than a month' Taylor said. 'I very much appreciate GUTS Church and Service International – who led the Team Relief response to Hurricane Katrina – for stepping up to help us organize this volunteer effort. This is another example of how partnerships between citizens groups and faith-based organizations can pull together to get the job done.'
Property owners who have damage to their weatherheads may call the Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100 to report it and be scheduled for assistance. Anyone who is unable to physically move tree limbs and debris from their yards and homes to the curb for pick up may call the Community Service Helpline – 211 for assistance from volunteers.
Officials have estimated that because of the damage and the number of people affected, it could take a month before power to all individual homes and businesses would be restored. If the state’s request for a disaster declaration is approved, FEMA would also send electricians to Tulsa to assist with individual home reconnections.
“Having Tulsans without electricity for a month is simply unacceptable,” said Mayor Taylor. “Our goal is to have people powered up by Christmas. Thanks to the efforts of these volunteers, I think we can achieve just that.”
In order to survey all the damage across the city, Mayor Taylor saw an aerial view from a Tulsa Police helicopter. It verified the assessments that have been done by teams on the ground, Taylor said.
'PSO line crews are out in force in the hardest hit areas and volunteer crews are clearing debris. There is still lot of progress to be made,' Taylor said. “People who have been fortunate enough to get their power back on will also need to understand that we still have a significant disaster situation, with thousands of homes, businesses and apartments still out of power because of the damage. We have had to aggressively intervene to make sure we don’t end up with properties out of power for a month.”
'That is why we began Operation Power Up! As expected, Tulsans are stepping forward to help each other. They want to help their neighbors. This unity is a great source of pride for our community,' Taylor said.
If 'Operation Power Up!' teams are unable to make contact with the residents, a flyer is left on the front door instructing the occupants to contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 596-2100 if they have weatherhead damage or debris on their power lines. The two-faceted plan involves mobilizing restoration assistance teams and centralizing weatherhead repair functions, both of which will expedite the process of restoring power to citizens' homes.
The second part of 'Operation Power Up!' involved establishing a central supply and dispatching station for electricians, at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds, to hasten the weatherhead repair process. In order to make a weatherhead serviceable, electricians must currently find a meter can and other parts which are in short supply. Finding the necessary electrical components can be time-consuming, given that demand currently outpaces supply; some electricians have reported traveling to other states to obtain parts.
'This is all about assisting these electricians,' said Taylor. 'We want people’s homes repaired and their lives back to normal as quickly as possible.'