Dallas officials activate emergency plans ahead of winter storm

brief

• Dallas will activate its emergency operations center Saturday morning as the winter storm brings freezing temperatures and snowy conditions to the region.

• City crews are pre-treating major roads and overpasses, while a large emergency shelter for up to 900 people will open Friday in Fair Park.

• Officials urge residents to stay off roads, protect pipes and bring pets inside to avoid accidents and damage to infrastructure.

Dallas – Dallas city leaders announced a comprehensive emergency response plan ahead of the winter storm, which is expected to bring freezing temperatures and icy conditions to the region starting Wednesday evening.

timeline

The city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will activate at 7 a.m. Saturday to coordinate public safety, transportation, and infrastructure recovery efforts.

“Our focus is simple. We want to keep our residents safe,” the city manager told reporters at a multi-departmental news conference. “Our teams are closely monitoring the forecast to ensure we activate our winter weather operations plan.”

Roads and infrastructure

Big picture view

Transportation and Public Works Director Gus Concarly said the city is taking a “three-pronged approach,” including pre-treating bridges and overpasses with salt and sand. Concarly noted that 50 “ice force” vehicles are standing by, but warned that residential streets will not be filled with sand unless requested by emergency responders.

Dallas Water Utilities asked residents to turn off exposed pipes and locate their main water shut-off valves. Meanwhile, sanitation officials warned that while Friday collections should go ahead as scheduled, garbage and recycling pickups could see significant delays on Monday and Tuesday if road conditions worsen.

“We’re well prepared. That’s what we do,” Dallas Fire Chief Justin Ball said at a news conference. “If you don’t want us to be too busy, stay home. That’s the advice. Stay home, because there’s going to be a lot of car accidents.”

sheltered and vulnerable population

To protect the city’s homeless population, an inclement weather shelter will open in Fair Park’s grand building on Friday from 4 p.m. Kevin Oden, director of emergency management, said the site could accommodate 800 to 900 people, with backup buildings identified if capacity exceeds 75%.

Residents needing transportation to the shelter can call 311 to be picked up by Dallas Street Response Teams.

Public safety alert

Fire Chief Justin Ball and police officials urged residents to stay off the road to prevent accidents. The force also issued a stark warning about home heating safety.

“Don’t start a fire indoors … don’t cook on the balcony,” Ball said, reminding residents to open fireplace drafts and not use candles or outdoor grills indoors if the power goes out.

Dallas Animal Services confirmed it patrols 24/7 to respond to reports of animals left out in the cold. Under city ordinance, pet owners are required to bring animals indoors during extreme weather.

Lessons from the past

What are they saying?

Reflecting on the deadly 2021 winter storm, city leaders emphasized improved coordination and infrastructure. Officials noted that many recreation centers are equipped with emergency generators, allowing them to serve as warming stations where residents can charge phones and stay warm if local power grids fail.

“We have systems in place to make sure those communication chains … are intact,” the city manager said. “Planning for such events does not begin today.”

source

The information in this article is from the Dallas City Leader’s press conference on Wednesday.