Dallas officials said they’re prepared to respond to the incoming winter storm that is forecast to bring a mix of ice and snow to the region this weekend.
City officials held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to update residents about their preparedness plans while also urging the public to avoid traveling on potentially icy and dangerous roads if possible..
“We want to make sure that all of our city infrastructure is functioning properly, and we also want to make sure that all of our most vulnerable neighbors are protected during this time,” City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said.
The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office issued a winter storm watch and an extreme cold watch ahead of the weather this weekend. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has activated state emergency response resources. Major highways are being salted, garden stores are building temporary greenhouses and pantries are getting stocked.
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City department heads, including emergency management and crisis response, transportation and public works, sanitation and first responders are working together over the next two days, officials said. The Emergency Operations Center is expected to activate Saturday morning at 7 a.m. to coordinate and monitor the citywide response.
Preparing the roads
Gus Khankarli, director of the Transportation and Public Works Department, said the city had identified the vulnerable spots that are likely to be impacted by the city, and are in the process of deploying contractors and workers to clear roadways and coordinate construction activity.
The city will be pre-treating and sanding public thoroughfares to reduce slippery conditions, officials said. There will be trucks that will monitor roads and bridges during the inclement weather. Khankarli said the city is currently evaluating what roads to prioritize and treat first.
Kevin Oden, director of emergency management and crisis response, said the city has 50 standing vehicles to take care of any slick spots or hazards on the streets.
Inclement weather shelters
Kevin Oden, director of emergency management and crisis response, said homeless provider Austin Street Shelter and city workers will begin setting up a temporary shelter at Fair Park’s Grand building, which can accommodate 800 to 900 people. They are expected to open the space at 4 p.m. on Friday, however, Oden said the city will allow for earlier access if weather conditions deteriorate before Friday.
Meanwhile, street response teams alongside the Dallas Fire Rescue plan to patrol the streets and help transport residents experiencing homelessness to Fair Park. Last year, the city got 205 requests to help people get to the shelter, of which 140 were located and helped, Oden told The Dallas Morning News.
Paul Ramon, the director of animal services, added his department will be on deck to house pets of unsheltered residents, and will be monitoring the roads to ensure there are no animals in harm’s way.
Trash pickup, pipes and utilities:
Cliff Gillespie, the director of the sanitation department, said the city expected minimal service impacts on Friday. Based on the conditions of neighborhoods roads and dangerous weather conditions for workers, trash pickups could be delayed Monday and Tuesday, and if the backlog is higher, then the delays could cascade throughout the next week.
Gillespie said the city had prepared to work with debris collectors.
Sarah Standifer, director of Dallas Water Utilities, said residents should pay close attention to pipes. “Know where your shut off valve is,” she said, adding that residents can reach the city by calling 311 if pipes burst or there’s an outage. The city will dispatch crews, and provide support through the storm.
Other officials said the city is proactively coordinating with utility providers such as Oncor and Atmos Energy to be ready to respond to widespread power outages. Dallas officials on Wednesday afternoon are expected to share how the city is preparing for the incoming winter storm. City leaders plans to share information about the weather forecast and inclement weather shelters.
Staff writer Julia James contributed to this report.