6-18-2023 7:18pm

Broken Arrow update on storm damage, debris cleanup

John Dobberstein Editor

Source: City of Broken Arrow, PSO

Extremely high straightline winds in Broken Arrow early Sunday left a significant number of homes and businesses in Broken Arrow without power, along with extensive tree damage and downed power lines and fences. Customers without electricity have been reported across the city.

The city said debris has been removed from arterial streets to ensure roadways are passable and safe. Stop signs have been placed in several intersections where traffic signals are without power. Those who approach an intersection without working traffic signals or a stop sign should treat the intersection as a 4-way stop.

There are a few streets, primarily in northeast Broken Arrow, that are closed with barricades. Motorists should find an alternate route and not drive around the barricades.

PSO said in a 7 p.m. update the estimated times of restoration for customers whose property is in condition to accept electricity will be available Monday morning.

As 6 p.m., outages are concentrated in the Tulsa and McAlester areas, and approximately 177,000 customers remain without power. PSO is experiencing the most significant restoration event since the 2007 ice storm.

PSO has commitments from more than 2,700 off-system crews – line workers, forestry and support personnel -- including crews coming from as far away as New Jersey and Delaware. This in addition to the approximate 700 PSO and local business partner resources who have been working since the storm subsided.

Trash, recycling,
debris collections

Tree debris in Broken Arrow may be placed at the curb in bundles of 4 feet or smaller. Leaves should be placed in clear bags and placed at the curb. Debris will be collected through June 30.

Solid Waste and recycling crews will run routes as normal during the week of June 19.

During the week of June 26 through 30, the city will pause recycling collections to focus on removal of tree debris

Residents who don’t want recycling to be dumped at the landfill should please not put their blue cart at the curb on their day of service during the week of June 26. This pause in recycling collections will allow customers the time necessary to pick up debris from their property and place it at the curb.

Cooling stations and
oxygen tank charging

Central Park Community Center, 1500 S. Main St., and Nienhuis Park Community Center, 3201 N. 9th St., will be open during normal business hours for customers who need a place of relief while power is out.

Individuals who need electricity to charge oxygen tanks may come to the Public Safety Complex, 1101 N. 6th St., until 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 18, and between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, June 19.

Power restoration

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) has reported that it will be a multi-day recovery event to restore power due to the significant number of outages.

As of 4:15 p.m., there were 25,385 customers without power in Broken Arrow.

If you approach downed power lines, please assume the lines are energized and stay away. Due to the significance of the outages, PSO expects to release estimated times of power restorations on Monday.

Please visit PSOklahoma.com/OutageMap or Facebook.com/PSOklahoma for outage status updates. Customers may call 1-833-PSO-OUTG to report an outage, safety hazard like downed wires, downed poles, or trees that have fallen on power lines.