City of Dallas Weather Update

To: Media

From: City of Dallas PIO

Re: Weather Update

 

City offices / facilities will close at 4pm today.

 

Office of Emergency Management: 

The Emergency Operations Center remains open and staffed and is monitoring and coordinating all impacts of the Winter Weather Event. The EOC is scheduled to remain open through 6:00PM tonight depending on the situation. There are currently no shelters open within the City that are being managed by the City or the American Red Cross.

 

Streets Services:

Ice Force operations are still on-going throughout the City to treat affected roadways. Due to power outages there are an estimated 400 traffic signals out and another 45 that are flashing. Chainsaw crews from Streets, Park and Recreation, and Trinity Watershed Management are out in the field clearing debris.

 

Sanitation Services:

Due to hazardous weather conditions, Sanitation Services will not be performing residential collections services today, Friday December 6, 2013.     Additionally, current weather conditions are not expected to improve until late Sunday afternoon; therefore, delayed collections will not take place this weekend.  

 

We understand that some Friday customers may need collections services before next Friday.   Sanitation Services is asking Friday customers who need service, to leave out their refuse and recycling through next week and if conditions and resources permit Sanitation Services will attempt to make those collections by end of day Wednesday, December 11, 2013.    Monday, Tuesday and Thursday residential collections will follow normal schedule next week.

 

Dallas Police:

Resources available are adequate for Public Safety Needs. Special attention is being given to vulnerable street populations due to weather conditions.

 

 

Dallas Fire-Rescue:

Responding to a number of downed line calls with Booster Trucks. Peak demand engines are in service to support. The department has responded to a higher than normal amount of house fire calls last night and this morning.

 

3-1-1:

Have received approximately 700 calls for service, most of which relate to power outages. All power calls are being routed to Oncor.

 

Animal Services:

Animal Services did not open the shelter today and field services have been restricted due to weather.

 

Park and Recreation: 

Recreation Centers are closed today. Normal operating hours are 2:30-6:30pm.

 

We will have a delayed opening tomorrow at 10am (Saturday). Normal Saturday hours are 9am-2pm.

 

Libraries:

All branch and Central Library will close at 4pm today.

 

Municipal Court Building:

Will close at 4pm today

 

Dallas Water Utilities:

Below is a listing of tips to share. 

 

Customers can visit http://www.dallascityhall.com/dwu/pdf/freezingPipes.pdf for more winter tips (English and Spanish).

 

Your automatic sprinklers 

If you have an automatic sprinkler system, be sure it has a rain and freeze sensor installed. These sensors have been required by City ordinance since 2005 and prevent your irrigation controller from coming on if temperatures drop below freezing. Watering during a freeze can cause sheets of ice to form on your property or on the street creating extremely dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. In addition to damaging your property, there could be liability issues should anyone be injured.

 

Preparing your pipes for Freezing Weather

When temperatures drop below freezing, the water in your pipes can freeze. Frozen water expands which can burst pipes and cause extensive damage to your home. In addition to the costs to repair your plumbing system, the flooding from burst pipes can damage carpeting, furniture and much more.

 

Before a freeze:

• Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home, including the attic.
• Drain and remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Insulate outdoor faucets with hard foam covers or wrap with cloth.
• If you have a pier and beam foundation, cover vents around the foundation of your home.
• Learn where your private water cut-off valves are and how to operate them.

 

 

In sub-freezing weather:

• Let hot and cold water drip slowly from inside faucets during a hard freeze.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.

 

If you’re not going to be home:

Turn off water at your private valve and drain all outside water faucets if your house will be unoccupied for several days. If a freeze occurs while you are gone, you may return home to find your home flooded.

 

Find your private water cut-off valve:

Frequently, private water cut-off valves can be found near an outside faucet and close to your house. Some homeowners with in-ground irrigation systems may find their private cut-off near the irrigation system valves, frequently close to the property line.

Older homes may have their cut-off valve buried in the ground. A quarter-inch piece of iron with a 90-degree angle protrudes from the buried valves and serves as a handle. The iron piece looks like an upside down “L” and turning the handle will stop the water flow to your home.

 

If you need help:

For emergency assistance in turning your water off or on, you can reach the City of Dallas 24 hours a day by calling 311.

 

 

 

 

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