The Democrats’ delicate majority in the U.S. Senate puts extra pressure on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to quickly pick a replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death.

Already, names were being floated Friday in California circles. The situation is complicated and wrought with political risk for Newsom, a term-limited governor with national political ambitions of his own.

The Democratic governor has promised to appoint a Black woman. He has also promised to avoid the field of candidates already running for Feinstein’s seat, which was set to expire at the end of next year and includes Rep. Barbara Lee, one of the state’s most prominent Black women currently serving in elected office.

In filling the Senate vacancy, Newsom has the sole authority to name a successor. He could even pick himself, though that is unlikely.

Newsom made no mention of Feinstein’s replacement in a statement he issued marking her death Friday morning.

“Dianne Feinstein was many things – a powerful, trailblazing U.S. Senator; an early voice for gun control; a leader in times of tragedy and chaos. But to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful, effective leader looks like,” Newsom said. “There is simply nobody who possessed the strength, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein.”

FILE – Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., smiles after announcing the introduction of a Senate bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, on Capitol Hill, March 16, 2011.

(AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

On Capitol Hill, Feinstein’s death leaves Senate Democrats with no margin for error until a successor is appointed.

Democrats now have a functional majority of just 50 seats in the Senate, while Republicans hold 49. At the same time, many Democrats are calling for the resignation of the indicted Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., although the embattled Democrat has vowed not to step down.

And while Democrats continue to control Congress’ upper chamber, Feinstein’s absence will make it harder to advance Biden’s judge nominees in the Judiciary Committee.

Newsom’s choices all run political risks.

Should he follow through on his pledge to avoid picking from those already running in the Senate primary, he could select a true caretaker who would be replaced by whomever voters select in next year’s election.

A handful of Black women in office have been floated as possibilities, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Lee and others lashed out at Newsom earlier in the month after he indicated he would select a caretaker instead of picking from the current slate of candidates.

“The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election,” Lee tweeted.

Some California Democrats are still upset about Newsom’s last Senate appointment.

He chose Alex Padilla, then California’s secretary of state, to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate when she was elected vice president. That process took more than six weeks. That made Padilla California’s first Latino senator, but it also left the Senate without a Black woman.

He later promised that if Feinstein’s seat became vacant, he would choose a Black woman to replace her.

“He made the commitment and I do not believe there is any wiggle room for the governor not to honor his commitment,” Kerman Maddox, a Los Angeles-based Democratic strategist and fundraiser, said before Feinstein’s death.

In a recent interview with Fox 11 TV in Los Angeles, Newsom said he was being swamped with recommendations for how to fill a possible Senate vacancy.

The decision for Newsom is clouded by his personal relationship with the late senator.

Newsom, whose father was a prominent judge in San Francisco, has known Feinstein since he was a child and has spoken recently about their personal connection. He interned in her office in college and said he considers her to be family. He said it wasn’t long ago that she would call him on the phone to discuss a variety of issues, from water policy to forest management.

“I have no objectivity whatsoever,” he said in a recent interview with NBC when asked about Feinstein and her decision to stay in the Senate.

He said he was hoping he would never have to make a decision to fill her seat.

___

Peoples reported from New York. AP writers Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed.

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Elon Musk’s electric car company Tesla allowed racial harassment of its Black employees to run rampant at its Fremont, Calif., plant and retaliated against some workers who complained, the federal agency charged with enforcing civil rights laws alleged in a lawsuit Thursday.

Black employees routinely faced racial slurs, including variations of the N-word, at the Fremont site, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and graffiti depicting nooses, swastikas and more were casually drawn across the facility’s public spaces. Tesla did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of allegations blasting the billionaire’s workplace environments — the Justice Department sued SpaceX, also owned by Musk, last month, alleging the company discriminated against refugees and asylum seekers in its hiring process. Half a dozen women sued Tesla in 2021, arguing that the company fostered a culture of sexual harassment. That same year, a federal court in California ordered Tesla to pay nearly $137 million in damages after an employee said they encountered racist abuse at Tesla’s Fremont site. The Fremont plant faced scrutiny again last year, when the state’s workplace regulator sued Tesla over similar claims of racial discrimination and harassment.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, since at least 2015, Black employees at the Fremont facility “have routinely endured racial abuse, pervasive stereotyping, and hostility as well as epithets such as variations of the N-word, ‘monkey,’ ‘boy,’ and ‘black b*tch.’”

“Slurs were used casually and openly in high-traffic areas and at worker hubs. Black employees regularly encountered graffiti, including variations of the N-word, swastikas, threats, and nooses, on desks and other equipment, in bathroom stalls, within elevators, and even on new vehicles rolling off the production line,” the EEOC wrote in a press release announcing the suit.

The agency added that employees who objected to the hostility were terminated, transferred or had their job duties changed.

“Every employee deserves to have their civil rights respected, and no worker should endure the kind of shameful racial bigotry our investigation revealed,” EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows said in a statement.

Tesla’s Fremont site is the company’s first manufacturing facility, and where it continues to produce the company’s Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y. Tesla has since grown to include facilities in Nevada, Texas, New York, Shanghai and Berlin.

The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The government seeks compensatory and punitive damages, back pay for the affected workers and measures to reform Tesla’s employment practices.

“When you let a standard slip, you’ve set a new standard. Determining that prolific racial slurs do not merit serious discipline and failing to correct harassing conduct sends an entirely wrong message to employees,” said EEOC San Francisco District Office Director Nancy Sienko. “It also violates an employer’s legal responsibility to act swiftly and effectively to stop race-based harassment.”

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“It has its value to be underestimated,” he said.

FromKelsey Walsh

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced Wednesday that he is running for the 2024 presidential election, making him the twelfth Republican candidate on the list.

Burgum, a former software CEO who was elected in 2016, announced his announcement with a video released Monday. He will make it official during his speech in Fargo on Wednesday morning.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum speaks at the start of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Fargo, North Dakota

(AP Photo/Jack Dura)

Burgum’s teaser video, titled “Change,” shows him tracing his biographical roots: “I started a shoeshine business, worked the grain elevator and chimney sweep for college, and then got my MBA from Stanford. I ignored those who said so. “North Dakota was too small, too cold, and too remote to build a world-class software company.”

A native of Arthur, North Dakota, Burgum founded Great Plains Software in 1983 and was eventually acquired by Microsoft in 2001. Burgum remained active in the company until 2007.

“I’m literally betting the farm is helping grow a small startup into a billion-dollar company with customers in 132 countries,” he said in his teaser video, describing himself as “a new leader for a self.” changing economy”.

Copyright © 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced a new plan involving the California National Guard and other agencies to combat San Francisco’s fentanyl crisis.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Mayor London Breed. “I’ve reached out to our governor, I’ve reached out to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others, and indeed our governor has responded with what I believe has been tremendous support.”

This support comes with an agreement between the California Highway Patrol, the California National Guard, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco District Attorney to work together to combat the ongoing crisis.

Cooperation between all four agencies will focus on “shutting down the fentanyl trade and disrupting the supply of the deadly drug in the city by holding accountable the operators of large-scale drug trafficking operations.”

“Help from the National Guard and from the CHP to coordinate and work with our police and prosecutors to help us address challenges surrounding our open-air drug trade, primarily in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods of San Francisco,” said Breed.

The announcement comes just two days after the governor made an unannounced stop in the tenderloin to get a first-hand look at the problem.

“We are taking action,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Through this new collaborative partnership, we are providing increased resources and manpower to law enforcement agencies to address crime associated with the fentanyl crisis, hold poison traffickers to account, and increase law enforcement presence to maintain public safety and public confidence in.” to improve San Francisco.”

“We’re making arrests day in and day out but it’s really hard to hold our own and we need to get it under control and that’s what we intend to do. So we’re going to do it the San Francisco way with San Francisco values, but the help is badly needed,” said Bill Scott, San Francisco Police Commissioner.

He explained what the police are facing and reassured who is being targeted.

“I want to reassure the public that we are policing the way we policing, with dignity and respect, and working with our community,” Scott said.

Newsom said the effort would not criminalize those struggling with drug problems but would rather focus on drug suppliers and dealers.

Few details have been released as of how the new troops would be deployed and when that would begin.

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CLEARLAKE, Lake County (CBS SF / BCN) -Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Lake County Tuesday in support of the response to the Cache Fire, which has caused major damage to homes and other buildings since it began three weeks ago.

According to a press release from the Newsom office on Tuesday, the “proclamation will help expedite the removal of the resulting dangerous debris and ash and streamline other public services for fire victims.”

CONTINUE READING: San Francisco’s chief economist explains the impact of remote working on the city’s finances

Newsom had previously declared a state of emergency in several counties affected by the Caldor Fire, McFarland and Monument fires, antelope and river fires, Dixie, Fly and Tamarack fires, as well as the Lava Fire and Beckwourth Complex Fire.

The Cache Fire began on August 18 and burned 83 acres in the 6th Avenue and Cache St. area. Dozens of houses and outbuildings were destroyed and hundreds were evacuated. Many of the homes destroyed were in Creekside Mobile Home Park and Cache Creek Mobile Home Estates.

A Lake County police officer assesses damage to a burned property after the cache fire ripped through the area on August 19, 2021 in Clearlake, California. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images)

No deaths were reported, but at least one person was burned.

Clearlake officials said they did not expect the governor’s declaration of emergency and welcomed the state and federal aid that is being raised to help the community with the millions of dollars needed for restoration costs.

CONTINUE READING: California recall brings VP Harris home to aid Governor Newsom

“I can not believe it! Our indications since the night of the fire have been that there would be no state or federal statement for failing to meet the thresholds, ”city manager Alan Flora told Lake County News.

“We recently learned that we were going to get government assistance with the cleanup, but it was unlikely that anything else would,” Flora told Lake County News. “We are very pleased that additional resources are now available for those whose lives were destroyed by the cache fire. It took a lot of lobbying to represent our case. “

Lake County has been hit by several devastating forest fires in recent years. Middletown was the site of the 2015 Valley Fire, which killed five people. Lower Lake, that was the scene of the Clayton Fire. There was also the Jerusalem, Rocky, and Pawnee fires, off the River & Ranch Fires that made up the Mendocino Complex, the largest fire in the state’s history at the time.

According to one estimate, 60 percent of the district has burned down since 2012.

MORE NEWS: The Stanford Blood Center is urging donations as supplies drop over Labor Day weekend

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Landing, a company building a nationwide network of fully furnished apartments for members of its member model, plans to move its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham, where it will add 816 new full-time jobs, accelerating growth plans.

Landing’s move is made possible through a partnership with the state of Alabama, Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham. The hiring boom will bring Landing’s total workforce to 900 and the company’s total workforce to over 1,000 nationwide over several years.

“Landing is a fast growing company with an innovative business model and we are very excited to have its headquarters in Alabama,” said Governor Ivey. “This is great news for Birmingham and for the state as a whole, as it shows we have the workforce and skills needed to be an innovative company breaking new ground.”

Today’s announcement comes after a landmark year for Landing, which has seen a surge in flexible living demand that has fueled its rapid expansion across the country. Last year, the company saw 1,250% year-over-year growth, growing from just nine cities in early 2020 to over 80 today, with the number expected to be more than 100 by the end of the year.

“As a native of Birmingham, relocating our headquarters and expanding our team in Alabama was a natural transition,” said Bill Smith, Founder and CEO of Landing. “I am excited about the opportunity to continue growing Landing and offer my community new jobs and economic opportunities. As we expand across the country, we will be committed to the vibrant cities in which we operate and will strive to have a positive impact on all of Landing’s communities. “

Smith had previously started Shipt, an app-based delivery service that grew rapidly and was replaced by Target Corp. in 2017. was acquired.

With roots in Birmingham, Landing’s move demonstrates the company’s commitment to Alabama – which brings new business opportunities and jobs to the area. The economic impact of Landing’s growth is expected to be significant.

An analysis by the Alabama Department of Commerce estimates the financial benefits of Landing’s move and expansion project over 20 years:

• New total wage bill: $ 1.3 billion
• Total new state revenue: $ 112 million
• Return on investment to the state: 356%

“Bill Smith is a rock star in Alabama’s innovation economy through his experience with Shipt, and Landing represents an exciting new chapter in a business career that has already resulted in massive success,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The company is off to a good start and Birmingham will provide a solid platform for its growth plans as it shakes up the real estate industry.”

Landing takes advantage of an apartment rental industry that has long been ripe for innovation – more flexibility, convenience and guaranteed quality. Landing offers tenants a more flexible living experience, giving its members the freedom to move around as often as they want without the hassle of strict rental agreements, prepayments for deposits, setting up utilities, or moving furniture.

After the surge in teleworking and the desire for a more flexible life last year, Smith scaled the company to meet exponential demand, increasing Landing’s network of available homes from 500 in early 2020 to more than 10,000 today.

As part of an economic incentive package to recruit Landing to relocate its headquarters, the state of Alabama has pledged funding through the Alabama Jobs Act and training services through AIDT, the state’s premier human resource development agency that provides assistance with recruiting, talent development, and more – On-the-job training.

Pending approval by Birmingham City Council, the City of Birmingham has provided funding through its Talent Investment Program (TIP), Talent Acceleration Program (TAP) and Talent Optimization Program (TOP) – professional development programs, local talent recruitment programs, and attracting talent in difficult-to-recruit professions. Jefferson County has funded new job creation pending approval by the Jefferson County Commission.

“Landing’s arrival couldn’t be a better time,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “As our city continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the new jobs and income Landing will bring to our community will fuel our recovery efforts. The financial incentive we are offering, subject to city council approval, will help recruit and train our citizens for the more than 800 new jobs, and the proceeds from the project will fund the city’s schools and infrastructure. “

“In Jefferson County’s expanding technology ecosystem, we are delighted that Landing has decided to relocate its headquarters to our region,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons, chairman of the county Commission’s Economic Development Committee. “This is just one more example of how we can work together towards common goals and improve access to high-quality jobs at above-average wages. We are happy to have Landing as a community partner and look forward to its further growth. “

Landing’s new headquarters will be located in downtown Birmingham in the John Hand Building. Individuals interested in joining the landing team can visit: www.hellolanding.com/jobs.

“Moving our headquarters from Landing to Birmingham speaks volumes about the quality of talent and support services in the area and our ability to continue to attract and grow technology companies in Alabama. This will undoubtedly be one of the largest headquarters relocations in the US this year and we are incredibly grateful to Bill Smith and the Landing leadership team for their faith and trust in Birmingham, ”said Ron Kitchens, Chief Executive Officer of the Birmingham Business Alliance .

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will be holding a news briefing to discuss the winter storm situation.

He will also be addresses the power demand situation.

Early on Monday there were rolling blackouts for parts of the state.

Those rolling blackouts were called out after a call for energy conservation was sent out and Oklahomans responded according to officials.

Those blackouts could still happen again.

Stitt says he has spoken with President Biden’s Homeland Security Advisor about an emergency declaration.

Watch the entire news conference and the explanation of why rolling blackouts were happening and then suddenly halted.

The city of Oklahoma City has released the following updated information on the winter weather impacts across the metro:

Streets

At least one lane in each direction has been cleared by City crews and contractors along City snow routes.

City street crews driving 25 trucks with snowplows are working around the clock. Crews will continue to plow the City’s snow routes until conditions improve. Contractors are on stand-by until the next round of snow starts to move through OKC. Salt is not being applied to streets because it is less effective in low temperatures.

A contractor using 6 motor graders, 13 loaders and 36 dump trucks is removing snow from downtown and transporting it to the former Bob Howard car lot.

There are 8,500 lane miles* in Oklahoma City, of that 1,800 lane miles are on snow routes. Neighborhood streets are not part of the snow routes and will not be treated.  An on-call contractor has been assisting the City crews on routes today.  

People are encouraged to avoid driving during hazardous conditions. If you must drive you should have someone to call in case you are stranded. If you get stranded, try to move your car off the road so other vehicles can safely pass.

Public Works has more than 9,000 tons of salt on hand, which is more than needed to treat City streets during this storm.

People can get updates at okc.gov/ice.

*A lane mile is a mile of roadway in a single driving lane.

Airport

Will Rogers World Airport is expecting cancellations and delays with the next bout of snow expected Wednesday. Travelers are encouraged to rebook if their travel plans are flexible.

Crews will continue to work in shifts but are staying onsite to maintain the airfield, airport roadways, sidewalks and employee parking facilities. Up to 40 maintenance employees are staying activated throughout the storm.

ABM Parking, the parking contractor at WRWA, is maintaining access to parking facilities for arriving and departing customers. Drivers for the Giddy Up Shuttles in Lot #2 have stayed on alert and are watching for customers as they pull into the lot. Many times, drivers can pick parkers up at their vehicles for transport to the terminal.

Travelers and visitors should frequently check the status of their flight prior to coming to the airport. Most airlines offer flight updates via mobile app, text notifications or on the airline’s website.

Utilities – Water, trash and recycling

Trash, recycling and bulky waste collection has been postponed due to ongoing weather concerns. The new schedule is as follows: Monday trash and recycling collection is moved to Saturday, Feb. 20. Tuesday trash and recycling collection is moved to Sunday, Feb. 21.

Crews will resume normal operations on Thursday, Feb. 18. All Thursday and Friday customers will have their trash and recycling collected on their usual day. Bulky waste operations will work Thursday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 21. Customers are asked to leave any bulky items in a visible location along the curb and make sure it is not covered by snow. 

The snow may cause additional limbs to fall from trees. If this happens, please set them out with your regular bulky waste. All regular bulky waste rules will apply.

For bulky waste, residents are asked to keep their items out until end-of-day on Saturday, Feb. 21.

EMBARK

EMBARK bus service has implemented a plan to run reduced service levels on Tuesday February 16.  The service levels will be equivalent to weekend service, which is one-hour frequency on most routes operating from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Customers will be advised by 3 p.m. on Tuesday via embarkok.com and social media if reduced service levels will continue on Wednesday. EMBARK bus transportation from the Willard Center and Homeless Alliance to the municipal warming center at Red Andrews Park will continue.  Public Transit is free for any resident needing transportation to a warming center or shelter.

EMBARK Plus ADA Transportation will maintain normal service.  EMBARK Plus customers are asked to call their destination to verify they are open before making the trip. Customers of EMBARK Mobility Management Services, catering to transportation needs for seniors, should call 405-297-2583 to check if transportation services are being provided.

OKC STREETCAR has temporarily suspended operation of the streetcar vehicles to conserve electricity during low ridership and extreme weather conditions putting demands on energy supply.   Shuttle van service is being provided for anyone at a streetcar platform attempting to use the system.

Get the latest updates on EMBARK winter weather delays and cancelations.

Parks and Recreation

The Parks Department closed all its public facilities and Martin Park Nature Center on Saturday, Feb. 13 and will reopen Wednesday Feb. 17. Will Rogers Gardens Exhibition Center will close on Sunday Feb. 14 and will reopen on Wednesday Feb. 17. Virtual Academy, which is held at multiple community centers will be closed Monday and Tuesday next week.

Municipal Courts

Court sessions have been canceled for Tuesday, Feb. 16 and Wednesday, Feb 17. If you cannot attend your scheduled court date at any time due to the road conditions or weather, please call (405) 297-3898 to reschedule.

EMSA

EMSA continues to respond to medical emergencies in Oklahoma City. EMSA officials thank OKC residents for following advice to stay home off of the roads to allow their crews to safely reach patients and transport them to local hospitals.

As of 2 p.m., EMSA remains very concerned about cold exposure calls in the Oklahoma City area. EMSA medics have responded to 11 cold exposure calls and transported seven patients to the hospitals because of their symptoms today alone. EMSA strongly discourages spending time outside, but if you must be in the freezing temperatures, dress appropriately with multiple layers and proper footwear (tight fitting shoes with grip and traction). They also encourage residents to check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are warm and safe inside their homes.

People experiencing Homelessness

A daytime warming center is open from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 through Friday, Feb. 19 at  Municipal Gym in Red Andrews Park, 720 NW 8. Parks and Recreation employees are staffing the center.

The Homeless Alliance Day Shelter (1729 NW 3rd) will remain open 7-days a week for the next two weeks from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pets are welcome and no ID is required.

Those needing shelter overnight can go to Willard Winter Shelter, 1400 NW 3. Hours are 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. Pets are welcome and nobody will be turned away. If the shelter reaches capacity, guests will be transported to another location that will provide backup capacity.

The Salvation Army (1001 N. Pennsylvania) will be providing winter shelter for women & women with children 24/7 throughout the storm.

The NE OKC Community & Cultural Center (3815 N Kelley) will be open 24-hrs/day.

Those wanting to make donations or volunteer should follow homeokc, Homeless Alliance, Salvation Army, City Rescue Mission and the other organizations previously listed on social media.

City owned lakes closed

All City-owned lake and pond surfaces are temporarily closed to prevent people and their pets from walking out on the ice. This closure prohibits fishing, boating, walking, skating, or any other activity in, or on the surface of a lake and pond.  Unless posted otherwise, the park grounds are not affected by this closure. People who refuse to leave may be subject to a trespassing citation. 

Police

If you are forced to abandon your vehicle, do not leave it in within a lane of traffic or within an intersection. Park it legally off the road or in a parking lot. Officers will use discretion and will not tow your vehicle unless it is a hazard and would likely cause an accident if not removed.

Vehicles left on the road in the designated show routes will be towed to allow snowplows to pass. All abandoned vehicles left on the roadway will be checked for occupants. Unoccupied abandoned vehicles, that have been checked, will be marked by a noticeable piece of yellow or blue tape. There is no need to report an abandoned vehicle that has been marked by yellow or blue tape.  Stranded residents that may need shelter, whether homeless or not, can be reported by calling 911 to check their welfare.  

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged and carry a charger or external battery for your cell phone. If you experience vehicle problems or get stuck, call someone capable of helping with the situation such as a tow truck or 911. 

Power outages should be reported to the respective utility and do not need to be reported to 911. 

Fire

Talk to your children about saying off frozen lakes and ponds. The ice is not thick enough to support weight. Dog owners should not throw sticks or balls on the ice. If your dog goes out on the ice and has a difficult time returning, don’t attempt to rescue it. call 911. Ice often becomes thinner the deeper the water is. 

Animal Welfare

If it is too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

• Towel dry your pet immediately after they come inside, paying attention to their paws and stomach.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Dog houses without insulation are not enough to protect dogs from hypothermia. Freezing drinking water also poses a risk to pets.

ONG

If you smell a natural gas odor, leave the area immediately then call 911 and 800-458-4251. 

Winter weather tips to help you prepare for the storm:

 Stay on snow routes

Stay home if you can. If you must drive, stay on the City’s snow routes. Visit www.okc.gov/prepare to see the regional snow route map.

Give plow/salt trucks space

Keep about 200 feet between your vehicle and salt/plow trucks.

Accident tracker

Residents can view injury and noninjury accidents on OKC roads by logging on to the City’s accident tracker at www.okc.gov 

Protect Your Pipes

Open cabinet doors below sinks and let faucets drip if temperatures remain below freezing for a day or more. Call (405) 297-3334 if your pipes burst so City crews can shut off water to your home.  Watch this video about protecting your pipes in winter weather.

Keep necessities on-hand

Items for winter storms to add to your disaster kit include additional non-perishable food and water for one or two weeks, extra blankets, coats, gloves, winter hats, and water-resistant boots. Get extra medication, oxygen or other medical supplies if it’s possible you’ll need a refill before the storm’s effects are over.

Turn off sprinklers

Home and business owners are asked to turn off sprinkler systems when the temperature drops below freezing to keep city streets from icing over.

Check on your neighbors

Make sure elderly family members, friends and neighbors are prepared for the storm, and check on them during and after the storm.

Power outages Keep your cell phone charged in case of a power outage. Residents can report power outages at www.oge.com 

Safely Use Alternative Heating Sources

Fires at home are common in the winter because of improper use of dangerous heating sources. Here are some tips from the Fire Department:

• Make sure working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed in your home. Alarms should be installed inside each sleeping area, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test your smoke alarms monthly and install fresh batteries twice per year when the time changes.
• Space heaters need space. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn (furniture, bedding, curtains, etc.) Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Keep all combustible materials away from floor furnaces.
• Remove any combustibles from central heater closets.
• Use a metal grate to hold logs inside fireplaces. Use an approved metal or glass screen in front of fireplaces to prevent embers from flying out of the firebox and into the home.
• Ensure the fire in the fireplace is completely extinguished before going to bed.
• Have fireplaces inspected and/or cleaned annually by a qualified chimney sweep specialist.
• Do not place hot fireplace ashes into dumpsters. Place ashes into a sealed metal container and store well away from the home for several days before final disposal.
• Remember to open the damper before lighting the fireplace.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Use portable generators outside and well away from the home. Position so that fumes and deadly carbon monoxide will not enter the home through doors, windows, or vents.

Dress for the conditions.

Dressing in layers is key, as it not only keeps you warm but allows you to adjust to changing temperatures. Proper gloves, socks and footwear are essential. Choose headwear that keeps your head and ears warm.  Ski masks can also help to warm your neck and warm the air you’re breathing. 

Energy saving tips from ONG

Oklahoma Natural Gas encourages customers to practice simple energy-saving tips and conservation efforts to manage their winter heating bills.  

• Keep warm, not hot When possible wear additional layers of clothing, consider turning down your thermostat and check your programmable settings.  
• Seal leaks around doors and windows Apply weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to stop air leaks and prevent energy loss. If that is not an option, you can also cover windows with towels, sheets or plastic to help keep the warm air in your house. 
• Reduce the temperature on your water heater  Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or put it on the “warm” setting. If your home will be vacant for two days or more, set the dial to the pilot position for even more savings.  
• Close blinds and curtains This helps keep warm air inside, especially if the sun is not shining. 
• Change or clean filters  A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment. 
• Hold off on doing chores Doing laundry and washing dishes can both use natural gas to heat the water and your dryer. If you can, wait until the extreme cold weather passes to complete these activities. If you cannot wait, use the cold setting where possible. 
• Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets Electrical switches and outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.  

Additionally, remember these safety tips:   

• Never use your stove or oven for home heating.
• Make sure nothing obstructs a furnace’s air intake and that vents and flues are intact and unblocked to avoid the potential of carbon monoxide poisoning.  
• When removing ice and snow in the vicinity of meters, vents or flues, do so carefully so as not to cause damage.
• Leave cabinet doors open, especially those on exterior walls, to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.

Winter Driving

• If possible, avoid driving while streets are covered in ice and snow.
• Have your vehicle winterized by a qualified mechanic.
• Make sure your tires have adequate tread for the conditions.
• Reduce speeds.
• Fill up your gas tank.
• Allow more time to slow down and stop.
• Allow more space between you and the car in front of you.
• Be sure to use your headlights so your car is visible during inclement weather.
• Watch this video with winter driving tips 

Winter Weather Vehicle Emergency Preparedness Kit

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
• Compass and road maps
• Shovel
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Flares
• Extra clothing to keep dry and gloves
• Sack of sand or cat litter (for tire traction
• Tow rope

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