Full Notification

CITY OF TONKAWA PUBLIC POWER October 24, 2025 City of Tonkawa Public Power Customers, This morning, our community experienced severe weather with damaging cloud-to-ground lightning strikes that have affected our electrical system and some of our customers. Electric crews have found multiple areas throughout the city with evidence of direct lightning strikes that have caused both "brown-outs" (temporary reductions in voltage) and complete power outages. Our Public Works Department's Electric Utility crews are currently surveying all areas of town to assess damage to our infrastructure. The Tonkawa Fire Department has also responded to lightning strike incidents this morning. Please be aware that response times may be delayed as crews work through affected areas. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO If you believe your power service has been affected by lightning strikes, please contact the Tonkawa Utility Offices immediately at (580) 628-2508. Do not assume your outage has been reported. Important Note: If your property has suffered a direct lightning strike, your electrical system may require inspection and repairs by a licensed electrician before full restoration can be completed. Tonkawa Public Power crews can assess damage to our system that may be affecting your neighborhood, but we cannot repair damage to your home's internal electrical system. LIGHTING FACTS & SAFETY INFO • Lightning strikes the Earth approximately 100 times per second. • A single lightning bolt can carry up to 1 billion volts of electricity. • In the United States, lightning causes an estimated $1 billion in property damage annually. • Electronics and appliances are particularly vulnerable to lightning-induced power surges, even when the strike occurs miles away. TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR ELECTRONICS FROM LIGHTNING DAMAGE • Use quality surge protectors: Not all power strips offer surge protection. Look for units with a joule rating of at least 1,000 (higher is better for critical electronics). • Unplug sensitive electronics: During thunderstorms, unplug computers, televisions, and other expensive electronics. Surges can travel through cable and phone lines as well as electrical wiring. • Consider whole-house surge protection: Installed at your electrical panel by a licensed electrician, these systems provide the first line of defense against surges. • Avoid using plumbing during storms: Lightning can travel through metal pipes, so avoid showers, baths, and using sinks during electrical storms. • Wait 30 minutes after the last thunderclap: Many lightning strikes occur at the beginning or end of a storm when people think the danger has passed. WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW: Our crews are working diligently to restore services to the small amount of outages and are working as quickly and safely as possible. We understand the inconvenience this causes and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we address these weather-related issues. For outage reporting and updates, please call the Utility Billing Office at: (580) 628-2508. Thank you for your understanding as we work to restore reliable power to all Tonkawa residents.

Instructions:

Please report any issues to your services to the City of Tonkawa Utility Office at: (580) 628-2508.