TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — More than 4,000 OG&E operators are restoring service to homes and businesses that can receive power.

Wind damage from Saturday’s storm included downed power lines, broken power poles, trees damaged equipment, broken horizontal arms and other equipment attached to poles.

As of 9:30 p.m., power had been restored to 70% of customers who lost power following Saturday night’s storm, with 41,600 customers without service at this time, down from a peak of 139,000.

The hardest hit areas include the Oklahoma City, Ardmore and Fort Smith metro along with northeastern and southern portions of the service area.

Due to extensive and severe damage, this will be a multi-day power restoration event.

OG&E expects an estimated recovery time to be available around Monday after the full damage assessment is completed.

Damage assessments must be completed on circuits representing approximately 16,000 miles of wiretapping.

Much of their service area is rural, with transmission and distribution structures not easily accessible by road and truck.

Meanwhile, OG&E teams will continue to work around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible following grid repair and will announce when it is time to restore.

Once the grid is repaired, they will prioritize restoring essential community services, such as hospitals, police stations, fire departments, public works and other critical infrastructure.

As Father’s Day draws to a close, OG&E understands that last night’s storm changed many of our customers’ plans and is grateful to the crews and support staff working today, away from their families, to restore power to customers throughout the service area as quickly and safely as possible.

Below is a guide for customers.

Temperature extremes:

Temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days and we appreciate the patience of our customers while teams work in the sun and heat to restore power as safely and as quickly as possible. Here are some safety tips customers can follow to help manage excessive heat:

• Drink a lot of water.
• If you don’t have air conditioning, open windows and curtains to let the air in.
• If so, use a portable fan.
• Wear light and breathable clothing.
• Check on older family members, neighbors, and pets to make sure they’re safe in the heat, too.
• Customers who depend on life-sustaining devices should contact their physician for instructions.
• If customers do not have electricity or need access to a climate controlled environment, please visit one of the OG&E Cool Zones. Customers can find their list of cool zones online.
• Customers can also call 2-1-1 for information on food and housing assistance, mental health resources, wellness programs, and other human services.

Power line broken / Report a power outage:

• Assuming any broken power lines are dangerous, it can still be powered – please stay away from them and anything they touch. Please do not drive through a downed power line. Report a downed power line by calling 800-552-6870.
• OG&E customers can quickly report and track outages: Use our free mobile app to submit reports (available on iOS and Android)
• Submit a Report online.
• Text OUT to 32001 if you have registered myOGEalerts
• Call 405-272-9595 (OKC metro) or 800-552-6870 (all other areas)
• As they work to restore power, access to your property may be required. Please ensure that teams have access and that you protect any animals.
• When they clear branches blocking power lines, the plant team will pick up the tree and remove debris from the customer’s yard to the curb but will not clear the debris. The disposal of storm debris is the responsibility of the customer.
• Customers need to be able to get power in their homes and businesses to restore service. A certified electrician may be required to repair the weather probe, meter stand or service cables if they are damaged.
• A list of recovery tips and contact numbers is provided for customers who may find their home or business damaged.
• Customers affected by weather-related outages can find helpful information and updates by visiting the OG&E Hurricane Center online.