City officials and staff with Keller, Fort Worth and Roanoke are all preparing for the arctic cold that is scheduled to arrive in North Texas Jan. 23.
Take a look to see the latest updates from each city.
Keller update
The city of Keller has already treated intersections and bridges with brine ahead of the winter storm.
Mayor Armin Mizani posted on Facebook that the city has several trucks with plow capabilities. These trucks will be used in the event of snow or ice along main roads. He said if power goes out for an extended period of time, the city will open a warming station, as it has done in the past.
Some other changes throughout Keller include:
Restrooms and water fountains at the parks will be shut off for the storm.Leaf collection will be prioritized through the city’s sign-up list once trucks can safely return to the road if Saturday morning collections are not possible, according to the city.Both Keller Pointe and the Keller Public Library will delay openings until at least Saturday at 11 a.m.
Saturday programs at both facilities and the parks and recreation board’s Fishing for Fun event have been cancelled for the weekend. The latest updates for the facilities will be available on social media pages.
City officials will follow the recommendations from Tarrant County Elections for early voting in State Senate District 9. Residents are encouraged to vote before the storm hits.
Fort Worth update
Fort Worth crews will start treating roads Jan. 23, according to a news release. The city is responsible for more than 8,600 miles of city roadways and more than 240 bridges.
The news release stated the priority for the city crew for transportation and public works department will be bridges and hospital entrances, critical hills and then intersections and arterials, respectively.
City staff will treat the road with a mix of salt and sand on top of icy pavement. Transportation and Public Works crews will work on rotating 12-hour shifts throughout the storm event, according to a news release.
The city has added an emergency issue category to the MyFW app, which will allow emergency service requests for clogged storm drains, no water service, street block/road hazard, street lights, traffic sign issue, tree traffic/visibility hazard and water leaks or breaks.
There will also be emergency shelters open for individuals who need shelter at the following locations:
Presbyterian Night Shelter at 2400 Cypress St.Union Gospel Mission at 1321 E. Lancaster Ave.For families with at least one child and one parent, The Salvation Army at 1855 E. Lancaster Ave. will be open. If weather triggers are met, more shelters will be activated to ensure demand does not exceed the capacity, according to the news release.
The Fort Worth Municipal Court’s Court in the Community-Warrant Forgiveness event scheduled Jan. 24, at Kay Granger Elementary School was postponed and will be rescheduled to a future date, according to a Facebook post by District 10 Council Member Alan Blaylock.
Roanoke update
Officials from the Roanoke Fire Department posted important information for residents to keep in mind when preparing for the winter storm expected this weekend on its Facebook page.
The fire department encourages residents to:
Never run generators indoors, in garages, or near windows or doorsUse approved heating devices only and not grills or ovensKeep fireplaces clear, never leave fires unattended and fully extinguish fires before going to bedMake sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are workingEnsure phones and battery packs are fully charged and have flashlights, blankets and warm clothes availableCheck on neighbors, especially seniors or those with medical needsKnow where your main water shut-off valves are locatedInsulate exposed pipes and outdoor faucetsLet faucets drip during hard freezesOpen cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulateBring pets indoors during cold weatherMake sure outdoor animals have warm, dry shelter and unfrozen waterCheck your pet’s paws after walks for ice or chemicalsBring plants inside when possible and cover sensitive outdoor plants with cloth or frost blanketsWater plants ahead of a freeze to help protect rootsFire department officials also suggested that residents take the following steps when facing a neighborhood power outage:Reporting the outage to your power providerStaying with friends or family who have not lost powerKnowing which hotels are open if being without power becomes unsafe or uncomfortableHaving a plan for petsIf a wider power outage occurs related to the Texas power grid managed by ERCOT, Roanoke officials are prepared to open warming shelters if and when they are needed.
Locations will be shared through official city channels at that time, according to the fire department’s Facebook post.