LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – City leaders will activate Lubbock’s Emergency Operations Center at noon Friday as winter storms approach the area.
The EOC will bring together representatives from multiple city departments to coordinate emergency response efforts. Nik Fort, the deputy director of Emergency Management, said city leaders continuously monitor conditions to prepare for potential impacts.
“There are certain things that we always keep up. Number one, we’re looking at grid conditions from ERCOT. And then we will also have our LP&L partners in here with us as well,” Fort said.
When activated, the Emergency Operations Center will include representatives from Lubbock Fire Rescue, Lubbock Police Department, EMS, Public Works, LP&L and a public information officer.
“They get a radio, they have multiple lines of communication and again that’s why we have everybody that we need in the same room at the same table so that we can coordinate and communicate in real time for an effective and swift response,” Fort said.
The center has access to about 75 cameras across the city to monitor road conditions and identify problem areas, including icy intersections and crash locations.
“This gives us eyes so that we can keep a real live look out at what we need to be addressing or what we need to be looking at. Or if there’s some sort of response happening, we can get eyes on it so that we can help the boots on the ground with whatever they need,” Fort said.
David Bragg, interim division director of Public Works, said crews have not yet deployed, because their sand and salt mixture is most effective after ice and snow accumulate on roads.
“What we put out is the sand and salt mixture. It’s effective after there’s already ice and snow on the road. That’s why you’re not going to see city crews out until there’s already snow and ice on the road,” Bragg said.
Public Works crews will operate on 24-hour schedules starting Friday afternoon, monitoring trouble areas and treating slick spots. Bragg asked residents to give crews space to work safely.
“It’s very difficult to work out in this weather, it’s hard enough to just travel from point to point, much less do critical jobs. So, make sure and give them a safe area to do what they have to do,” Bragg said.
The Emergency Operations Center will run continuously through the weekend until conditions improve enough for normal operations to resume.
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