The City of Tulsa team of employees have worked diligently over the last few days to address the needs of citizens during one of the worst ice storms Tulsa has ever experienced. Tulsa Police, Tulsa Fire, EMSA, Public Works, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, American Red Cross and many other agencies across the county have responded to citizens' needs throughout the night as we continued to see damage from the ice storm.
Thousands of homes and businesses are still without electrical power and PSO reports that it may be as long as the middle of next week before power is fully restored to all customers. In the mean time, city services will continue to be delivered at as high a level as possible throughout the coming days.
Many Tulsans have been unable to leave their homes because of downed tree limbs and power lines blocking driveways and residential streets. We continue to encourage citizens to heed warnings and remain in their homes until conditions are safe.
Citizens should exercise caution when driving in areas where crews are working to remove tree debris and repair power lines. On Tuesday, PSO announced that emergency repair crews are coming from throughout the region to deal with downed lines and transformers. Tulsans are cautioned to not attempt to remove debris, tree limbs or work around downed lines. That work should be done only by trained linemen and emergency responders.
Calls for assistance in removing downed trees or limbs can be directed to Public Works at 596-9711. Emergency calls can still be directed to the E-911 Center. And the staff at the Mayor's Action Center, 596-2100, will be on duty during normal business hours to deal with other non-emergency calls and provide general information regarding shelters or health issues. The 211 Call Center is available to provide information regarding social services, shelters and provide assistance in non-emergency matters.
I hope you find this news informative. If you have a suggestion or comment, I would love to hear from you. Please email me.
Kathy Taylor
Mayor
Tulsa E-News, December 10, 2007
City Responds to Ice Storm
Tulsa Police, Fire and Public Works crews responded to the ice storm that hit Tulsa and surrounding communities Sunday and Emergency 911 operators were flooded with calls for assistance.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center was activated at 5:30 a.m. Monday and Mayor Taylor joined key department heads and emergency response managers at the EOC to try and assess damage and direct responses.
Helpful Numbers:
E911 - Emergencies Only
211 - Non-Emergency Assistance
PSO -
888-218-3919
596-2100 - Mayor's Action Center
Panel Makes Street Recommendations
The 22-member Complete Our Streets Panel submitted its recommendations to Mayor Kathy Taylor and the City Council at the December 4 Council Committee meeting. Co-chaired by Sharon King Davis and Dewey Bartlett Jr., the panel challenged Tulsa to take bold action to correct decades of underfunded street maintenance. This neglect has resulted in a general decline of the streets' surface quality and capacity to handle increased traffic due to growth and development.
35 Graduate from Fire Academy
Thirty-five new Tulsa Firefighters were sworn in Friday in ceremonies presided over by Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tulsa Fire Chief Allen LaCroix at the graduation of the Tulsa Fire Academy Class of 2007.
The cadets completed 23 weeks of intense field training and classroom work. All 35 are nationally-registered Emergency Medical Technicians. Nine of the graduates are also Paramedics.
Fitness Challenge Wins Award
Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition honored Mayor Kathy Taylor and the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge (MFC) for their efforts to improve the health of Oklahoma children and youth during a December 6 awards ceremony at the University of Central Oklahoma. Mayor Taylor was also recognized as one of the state’s leading public officials for her work in promoting activities that reduce childhood obesity.
Task Force to Be Appointed
Mayor Kathy Taylor will soon appoint an Animal Welfare Task Force. The team will prioritize the suggestions made by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in a report on the City of Tulsa’s animal shelter. As prescribed by the HSUS report, the task force will consist of a small group of unbiased individuals with specific skill sets to assist in this effort.
The City has already made many of the improvements suggested by the report. Directors initiated the first improvements after Taylor visited the facility with the HSUS study team in April 2007.
Glass Going Up on BOK Arena
Installation of the first of 1,600 glass panels that will wrap the exterior of the new BOK Center began this week.
Workers have nearly finished installing glass on the return wall which connects the “icon wall” with the main structure and covers the main entrance. Glass installation is expected to be completed some time in January, after which the building will be weather-tight, said Construction Director Bob Eggleston.
“We have many different elements of the project that can move forward when that happens, so it is very important to stay on schedule,” Eggleston said. The BOK Center is expected to open next September.
Camelot Hotel Comes Down
Despite chilly weather, crowds gathered near I-44 and South Peoria Thursday to watch as wrecking crews began demolishing a Tulsa landmark-turned-eyesore, the Camelot Inn.
It will soon be replaced by the 500th Store in the Quik Trip Corp.’s convenience store chain. Quick Trip purchased the Camelot site last summer and took over the demolition process.
A Christmas Carol visits PAC
In its 31st year American Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol is the second-longest-running production of Charles Dickens’ classic in the country.
Yet it’s still as fresh as the snow that falls on the English rooftops of its magical set, thanks to an outstanding cast.
Tips for Staying Safe While Shopping
Stores and shopping centers and malls crowded with holiday shoppers may attract car thieves, purse-snatchers and other criminals at this time of year.
Tulsa Police Department Spokesman Jason Willingham offers the following “Top Ten Safety Tips” for Tulsans who will be out and about in coming weeks.
OU Health Clinic Planned for North Tulsa
Mayor Kathy Taylor joined University of Oklahoma President David Boren last week in announcing plans for a new 50,000-square-foot health clinic at 36th Street North and Hartford Avenue.
The clinic is to address health-care needs throughout the community, but the location was chosen in part, Boren said, because a recent health-care study in Tulsa indicated that those living in North Tulsa have a life expectancy 14 years shorter than those who live in south Tulsa.