trinityboringsolutions.com

How We Respond

Our Emergency Response Process in Oklahoma

Knowing what happens after you call matters. Here is exactly how Trinity Boring Solutions responds to underground utility emergencies in Oklahoma: from the moment your call comes in to the moment your utility is restored and our crew clears the site.

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Transparency in Emergency Response

Why Understanding the Process Matters

Underground utility emergencies create pressure on everyone involved. Property owners want their utility restored immediately. Contractors want to get the repair done and move on. Municipalities want service restored with minimum public disruption. In that pressure environment, miscommunication about roles, timing and responsibilities can slow everything down.

We publish our emergency response process so that everyone who calls us understands exactly what we do, in what order, and what they need to provide on their end to make the process work efficiently. This is not a corporate framework. It is the actual sequence of events that happens on every emergency call we respond to in Oklahoma.

Trinity Boring Solutions aerial view of emergency crew at Oklahoma job site

Step by Step: From Your Call to Restored Utility

Step 1: Initial Call and Situation Assessment

When you call (405) 409-7423 a real person answers, day or night. We do not use an answering service that takes a message for a callback during business hours. The person answering has authority to dispatch a crew and in many cases is the foreman directly.

We ask targeted questions to understand the situation: what utility is affected, what are the visible symptoms, what is the address, has the utility been isolated or is it still active, has 811 been notified, and what other contractors are already on site or en route. This conversation takes 3 to 5 minutes and determines what equipment we bring and how urgently we dispatch.

Step 2: Dispatch Decision and Crew Mobilization

Based on the assessment call, we determine which crew and which equipment is right for the situation. The relevant rig, tooling, and materials are loaded and the crew mobilizes to the site. We give you an estimated arrival time at this point based on the crew’s current location and the drive time to your site.

While the crew is en route, we initiate any permit or utility notification that can be started ahead of arrival, and we confirm with you that the site will be accessible when we arrive. Nothing slows an emergency response down more than arriving at a locked gate or a site where no one is present to provide access.

Step 3: On-Site Assessment and Safety Confirmation

When we arrive, the first thing we do is a walk through of the site with you or your representative. We confirm the utility locate information, identify any site hazards, and determine the specific work scope. If the utility has not been isolated and the situation involves gas, we will not begin work until the gas utility has confirmed the line is isolated and the area is safe. No exceptions.

We also look for other utilities in the work zone that may not have been included in the initial locate. Dense utility corridors are common in older Oklahoma neighborhoods and construction sites, and we verify the immediate work area before any equipment touches the ground.

Step 4: Work Plan Confirmation and Scope Agreement

Before boring or trenching begins, we walk you through our plan: where we are entering, where we are exiting, what the bore or trench path is, what materials we are installing, and how long we expect the work to take. We give you a quote at this point and get your approval before we start. No surprises on scope or cost.

If the site conditions have changed from what was described on the phone, we discuss those changes and how they affect the approach and timeline. Sometimes what looks like a simple bore from the description turns into a more complex access problem when we see it in person, and those conversations need to happen before work starts rather than halfway through the job.

Step 5: Utility Locating and Safe Zone Establishment

We confirm all utility locates are current and mark the safe bore or trench path. In emergency situations we use our own walkover locating where applicable and do not rely solely on paint marks from the locate contractor, which may have been placed for a different scope of work. We set up safety barriers, signage and any required traffic control before equipment is positioned for work.

Step 6: Boring, Trenching or Hydrovac Work

The work begins. For boring jobs, we establish the entry pit, set up the bore machine, and begin the pilot bore. The walkover locating system tracks our position throughout the bore. We communicate progress to you and flag any conditions encountered that were not anticipated in the work plan.

For trenching jobs, we excavate along the confirmed path with the appropriate shoring where required. Material is managed on site and the excavation is completed to the pipe depth with the trench walls at the required angle or with shoring installed before anyone enters the trench.

Step 7: Pipe or Conduit Installation

For bore jobs, once the pilot bore is complete and reamed to the right diameter, we pull the product pipe or conduit through the bore hole. For trench jobs, the pipe or conduit is placed in the trench at the specified depth with proper bedding. Connection work at the ends is performed by the trade contractor or utility responsible for that utility type.

Step 8: Site Restoration and Cleanup

We backfill entry and exit pits, compact as required, and restore the surface to its pre-work condition as closely as possible. For road work, temporary patches are placed before we leave. We remove all equipment, collect all materials and leave the site clear of our presence except for the work we have installed underground.

Step 9: Documentation Handoff

Before we clear the site, we provide you with written documentation of the work: bore path location and depth, pipe or conduit type and size installed, entry and exit pit locations, and a summary of conditions encountered. This documentation is yours to keep and should be filed with the property records or utility infrastructure files for the site.

TBS worker cleaning boring equipment after emergency job completion in Oklahoma

What You Need to Do to Make Emergency Response Efficient

The fastest emergency responses happen when the customer is also prepared. Here is what you can do to make our arrival and work go as smoothly as possible.

  • Know the site address and the nearest cross street intersection when you call
  • Have the utility company’s contact information ready if the gas, water or electric needs to be isolated
  • Make sure someone with site access authorization will be present when we arrive
  • If 811 locate flags or paint are already on the ground, protect them from being disturbed before we arrive
  • Document what you are seeing before we arrive: photos of water surfacing, the location of the 811 paint marks, the area where the strike occurred if it was an excavation strike
  • Identify any surface features we need to protect: sprinkler heads, gas meters, phone pedestals, landscaping that should not be disturbed

Emergency Preparedness Resources

Related Services

Frequently Asked Questions: Emergency Response Process

What is the single most important thing I can do to speed up emergency response?

Call us before you call other contractors. The earlier we know about the situation the earlier we can dispatch. Many emergency calls we receive have already burned several hours because the property owner or GC was trying to solve the problem themselves first, or was calling around to find someone. When a utility fails and you cannot handle it with your own resources, call us first and let us tell you what we can do and how fast we can be there.

Can you respond to an emergency if I do not have utility locate information yet?

Yes. We can initiate the emergency 811 locate process as part of our mobilization. For truly urgent situations, 811 has an emergency locate option that is faster than the standard 2-business-day window. We also use our own locating equipment on site to verify the locate information and identify anything that the 811 marks might have missed. We do not bore until we have confirmed what is below, but we work to get that confirmation as fast as the situation allows.

What if the situation changes after you arrive on site?

We adapt. Emergency situations change as more information becomes available. What started as a suspected gas service strike may turn out to be a water main when we expose the area. What looked like a simple conduit replacement may reveal multiple utilities in the bore path. When conditions change we communicate immediately, update the work plan, and confirm the revised approach with you before proceeding. You are never left guessing about what is happening.

Do you coordinate with other contractors already on site during an emergency?

Yes. Multi-contractor emergency sites are common and coordination between crews is essential. We identify who else is on site when we arrive, clarify the sequence of work, and ensure that our boring or trenching activities do not conflict with what other contractors are doing. Clear role definition prevents duplication of effort and prevents one contractor’s work from undoing another contractor’s work.

How do you handle an emergency that extends overnight?

We work through it. Utility emergencies do not get a natural break at the end of a shift. If a bore is in progress when darkness falls, we continue with lighting. If a trench is open and a repair is not yet complete, we stay on site until the utility is restored and the trench is safely closed and protected. We communicate any schedule extension to you so you know what to expect.

What if the bore path I expected is blocked by an obstruction?

We evaluate the obstruction and present you with options. Depending on what the obstruction is, we may be able to go around it, go under it, or recommend an alternate access approach. We do not proceed through an obstruction that poses a risk to other utilities without confirming what it is first. Your job is safe before our job is fast.

Is your emergency response faster for OKC than for rural areas?

Yes, honestly. For OKC metro locations we are typically on site within two to four hours. For rural locations outside the metro, distance adds to the response time and we are transparent about that when you call. We will not tell you we can be there in two hours and show up in six. If you are in a rural area and need emergency boring support, call us early and give us time to get there.

What documentation do I get when the emergency work is complete?

A written description of the work performed, the as-built location of any bore paths or trenches, the materials installed, and any significant conditions encountered. This documentation supports permit closeout, insurance claims if the emergency was caused by a third party, and your future maintenance planning. We provide it before we leave the site.

Can you respond to an emergency on a job site where I am the GC and the owner is not present?

Yes. We regularly take instruction from the GC or project manager on construction sites. You do not need the property owner present to authorize our work. We do need someone with authority to approve the scope and cost of the work, and in a construction site emergency that is typically the GC or owner’s representative. We confirm authorization before we start work regardless of the urgency.

What is the best way to reach Trinity Boring Solutions for a true emergency?

Call (405) 409-7423. That is the direct line and someone answers around the clock. The contact form on our website is monitored during business hours and is suitable for urgent but non-immediate requests. For a true emergency where every hour matters, the phone call is always the fastest path to dispatched help.

Underground Emergency in Oklahoma? Here Is How to Start.

Call (405) 409-7423. We answer 24/7, assess your situation, and dispatch the right crew and equipment.

(405) 409-7423 Request Emergency Dispatch
Trinity Boring Solutions
9102 NW Expressway, Yukon OK 73099
(405) 409-7423 | darren@trinityboringsolutions.com
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