LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Mayor Mark McBrayer said preparation and public cooperation helped the city navigate this weekend’s winter storm.
“We always prepare for what we think the reports consider might be the worst case scenario,” McBrayer said. “I think the important thing to note is that our city staff and our Lubbock Power and Light staff were all very prepared, ready for the worst, and therefore able to easily handle what we had.”
The mayor said salt and sand crews worked consistently over several days leading up to the storm.
“And then we were prepared if the snowfall fell above 4 inches to get the plows out on our major streets. I don’t know that we’ve had to do that much because the snow is really about four to five inches,” McBrayer said.
McBrayer credited residents for keeping crash numbers down by staying off the roads. He said school closings also helped, despite creating childcare challenges for some families.
The city reported 80 crashes from Friday at noon to Monday at 5:30 p.m. Twenty crashes involved injuries, but none resulted in serious injuries.
Before the snow hit, McBrayer said he was pleased Red Raider fans could still safely attend Saturday’s basketball game.
“I think we’ve gotten through it pretty well, I mean I went to the basketball game Saturday afternoon and it was a full house. You know, people got out and were able to get out and enjoy that game, which was a great game,” he said.
After closing early Friday, warming centers at city libraries reopened Saturday and Sunday. McBrayer said the city’s partners, including the Salvation Army, had adequate space, so the warming centers served as overflow.
“I think the decision was kind of, we have enough space in our normal places, but then, we decided in an abundance of caution to open some of them back up. But I don’t think they were ever very crowded, from what I understand,” McBrayer said.
The mayor praised Emergency Operations Center staff for working around the clock and Lubbock Power and Light crews for quickly restoring power to homes and businesses.
“I’m very impressed with our city employees or city staff. They’re very dedicated. I mean, you will see them out there working in some of the worst weather conditions you can imagine, and they’re always out there working. So they’re very dedicated. We appreciate them very much,” he said.
McBrayer encouraged residents to continue being cautious on roads, whether by staying home or driving slowly on surfaces that will refreeze overnight.
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