By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — With winter weather expected to move through the Tulsa area this weekend, EMSA is urging residents to prepare now for potential power outages and hazardous conditions.
Riley Howard, community and special events coordinator for EMSA, said their teams are ready to respond during the winter storm, but hazardous road conditions may slow response times.
“Our paramedics and EMTs are trained to deliver that high quality pre-hospital emergency care in any conditions, and they’ll be strongly supported by our fleet technicians, our logistical staff and our dispatchers,” Howard said. “But we want folks to know, do not hesitate to call for help if you need assistance.”
Howard said now is the perfect time to stock up on food, water and prescription medications. For residents who rely on oxygen, having backup tanks is especially critical.
“Say the power goes out, you run out of your supply of that oxygen. We’re now having to send a resource to you and take you to the hospital until power’s restored or something like that,” Howard said. “So having those backup plans is really good.”
EMSA recommends preparing for potential power outages by gathering flashlights, blankets and batteries. Residents should also ensure their phones stay charged and accessible to call for help.
Howard stressed the importance of heating safety. Never use stoves or ovens to heat your home, and never run generators indoors, in a garage or near windows or doors. Make sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working properly.
“Those CO detectors are extremely important,” Howard said. “Those are calls that we end up running every year when folks are trying to stay warm.”
If the power goes out and you don’t have a generator, Howard said residents should familiarize themselves with the city’s warming stations. Those locations will have electricity and heat available. You can find information on warming stations by going here or by calling 311.
“Make sure you have a backup plan, whether you are able to get there yourself or you have family or friend that can get you there,” Howard said. “If not, of course, any emergency, please call us.”
EMSA also warns residents to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Falls are common during icy conditions, and Howard said simple tasks like getting the mail or taking out the trash can wait until the weather passes.
If you must go outside, take small steps, use handrails and keep your phone with you in case you need to call for help.
Howard’s best advice: avoid travel this weekend. If you must drive, fill up your gas tank and increase your following distance. Accidents slow response times for emergency crews and delay maintenance workers from clearing roads.
“Just stay indoors,” Howard said. “Take the opportunity to have a lazy weekend at home and enjoy it.”
