[Press Conference: "Arctic Cold Front and Weather Preparation"]
[00:00:19]
WELCOME TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER.
WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER IS OF CONCERN OF ALL HOUSTONIANS, HOW WE CAN BE BEST PREPARED FOR THIS ARCTIC AIR THAT IS APPROACHING US.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK.
THIS GREAT TEAM THAT STANDS BEHIND ME REPRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION.
NO ONE HAS BEEN LEFT OUT IN PREPARATION.
WE HAVE OUR WARMING CENTERS PREPARED TO BE OPEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY.
AND ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, CERTAINLY CHIEF NER, CHIEF PENA BUNICH, THEIR MANAGEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE STREET.
WE, THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE TALKING TO HISD, WE'RE TALKING TO TDOT.
I CAN GLADLY SAY THAT I'M IMPRESSED WITH THIS TEAM, THIS BUILDING, IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE OPERATIONS, ARE DEDICATED MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE'VE DONE THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO BALANCE THE WARMING CENTERS ACROSS HOUSTON.
THERE'LL BE A TOTAL OF SIX, BUT WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH LAKEWOOD CHURCH AND THE Y-M-C-A-A LEAF.
WHAT I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE IS TO BE PREPARED.
BE PREPARED FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOUR PETS, YOUR PIPES, YOUR PLANTS.
THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO ALL COME TOGETHER, WHAT WE DO SO WELL, WE'VE GOT A RECORD OF COMING TOGETHER AND BEING SUCCESSFUL UNDER VERY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND AS I WAS PREPARED TO COME SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, I REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS, CONSIDER THE MISERY FACTOR BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING FOOLISH.
REMEMBER HOW MISERABLE YOU'RE GONNA BE AFTER THE EVENT.
SO I WANT EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE TO REALIZE, BE SMART, THINK AHEAD.
THINK ABOUT THAT MISERY FACTOR.
IF YOU UNNECESSARILY DRIVE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, OR IF YOU GET CAUGHT OUTDOORS, BE SMART.
DURING THESE TIMES, IT WILL PAY OFF.
REMEMBER THAT MISERY FACTOR, AND WE WILL HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES OR BEYOND INDIVIDUAL'S CONTROL.
THAT'S WHY THE TEAM IS STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE EXPECTED AND THE UNEXPECTED, BUT WE NEED EVERYONE'S COOPERATION.
TRY TO LIMIT YOUR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOOR, YOUR TRANSPORTATION.
WE CAN PULL TOGETHER, UNITED AS HOUSTONIANS, CELEBRATE OUR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.
BUT TODAY AND UNTIL MIDWEEK NEXT WEDNESDAY, WE'RE ALL HOUSTONIANS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SO PROUD TO REPRESENT.
I'M PROUD TO BE THE MAYOR OF A GREAT CITY.
SO LET'S DEMONSTRATE TO OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING US, WE'RE SO SPECIAL.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE HARDSHIP, OTHER COMMUNITIES WILL EXPERIENCE THE NATIONAL NEWS UP NORTH.
OTHER AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY SUFFERING HARDSHIP, WE'RE DEMONSTRATING TO THE NATION THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
I'M PROUD TO BRING UP AT THIS TIME, OUR POLICE CHIEF TROY FINNER.
UM, AS MAYOR STATED, UH, WE, WE GOT SOME, UH, FAIR COLD WEATHER APPROACHING AND, UM, I'M NOT THE WEATHER EXPERT.
WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT'S COMING UP, BUT I DO WANT TO SEND THIS MESSAGE AS, AS THE CHIEF, UM, IF IT RAINS, THINGS ARE GONNA BE QUICKLY COMPLICATED WITH, WITH THOSE, UH, TEMPERATURES DROPPING, UH, SO MUCH.
SO I WANT TO DO WHAT I ALWAYS DO, ASK PEOPLE TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
UH, AND THAT GOES FOR, UM, HOMELESS POPULATION, OUR PETS, PLANTS, PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
AND, AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, DON'T BECOME A PROBLEM, OKAY? IF YOU JUST PLAN AHEAD A LITTLE BIT.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ON THE ROADS WHEN IT GETS SO COLD, UM, STAY AT HOME AND, AND STAY WARM AND SAFE AT, AT AT HOME.
OKAY? UM, WE GOT A NUMBER OF EVENTS THIS WEEKEND.
THE TEXANS GAME IS, SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT TOMORROW AS SUNDAY COMES IN THE MARATHON, AND WEATHER'S GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT WORSE.
[00:05:01]
UM, SO JUST PLEASE PLAN AHEAD.JUST WANT TO TELL YOU AT THE PUBLIC, UM, WE HAVE OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE OUT EVEN BEFORE THE, THE MAJOR, UH, COLD WEATHER COMES IN, UH, LOOKING FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN GET TO A WARMER PLACE.
SO IF YOU SEE THEM OUT THERE OR YOU SEE SOMEBODY AND LOOK LIKE THEY'RE DOWN, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL, HPD, NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER OR 3 1 1, ANY NUMBER SO WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND, AND GET THEM TO A SAFE PLACE.
OUR BART UM, TEAM, UH, THEY'LL BE OUT THERE, I'M SORRY, OUR ANIMAL CRUELTY TEAM WORKING WITH BART.
UH, LAST STORM, WE HAD, UH, UM, 544 CALLS.
I, I THINK MY COMMANDER SAID, UM, UH, ABOUT ANIMALS.
SO, UM, KEEP THOSE CALLS COMING IN AND, AND, BUT JUST PLAN AHEAD.
UM, TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS, TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER, AND, AND WE, WE'LL BE GOOD JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.
BUT, UM, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND, UH, LET'S CONTINUE TO, TO WORK TOGETHER, KEEP OUR COMMUNICATION GOING, AND PEOPLE JUST USE A LITTLE BIT OF COMMON SENSE AND, UH, WE'LL BE ALL GOOD.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE WILL HAVE SEVEN WARMING CENTERS, AND THEY ACTUALLY OPEN MONDAY AT 8:00 PM TO 8:00 AM TUESDAY, AND THEN THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT, AND I PLACED SUCH A HIGH PREMIUM ON PUBLIC SERVICE.
PUBLIC SERVANTS, COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN ARE HERE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND LENDING THEIR SUPPORT AND ECHOING THE MESSAGE OF WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
LET'S COME TOGETHER AT THIS TIME.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR LEADING ON THIS, ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, AS YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER, THE EXPECTED WEATHER IS, UH, CAN CAUSE SOME VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR HOUSTONIANS.
WE EXPECT IT TO BE BUSY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
EVERY TIME WE GET WEATHER LIKE THIS, IT, UH, IT INCREASES THE CALL VOLUME, BUT THE PUBLIC CAN DO THEIR PART AS WELL.
THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT, AND IT'S A GOOD POINT, MINIMIZE TRAVEL AND STAY INDOORS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE EXTREME PART OF, OF THE COLD.
KEEP AN EYE ON 'EM, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY, AND BE CAUTIOUS OF, OF, UH, CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
WE DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO SACRIFICE SAFETY FOR WARMTH.
UM, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR IN YOUR HOME.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE ON EVERY FLOOR, INCLUDING THE BASEMENT, BECAUSE, UH, EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE END UP AT THE ER FOR ACCIDENTAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONINGS.
MAKE SURE YOU DO CERTAIN THINGS.
CARBON MONOXIDE IS COLORLESS, IT'S ODORLESS AND IT'S POISONOUS.
IT CAN VERY EASILY REACH LEVELS THAT ARE, THAT ARE LETHAL TO BOTH HUMANS AND, AND ANIMALS.
SO THE COMMON SOURCES OF, OF CARBON MONOXIDE IS, ARE IMPROPERLY WORKING FURNACES, MAKE SURE YOU'RE SERVICING THOSE FURNACES.
GET A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO COME OUT TO YOUR HOME AND SERVICE YOUR FURNACE BEFORE, BEFORE THIS, UH, THIS WEEKEND, IF WE GET POWER OUTAGES OR IF YOU USE GENERATORS, ENSURE THAT THOSE GENERATORS ARE OPERATED OUTDOORS.
DO NOT OPERATE THE GENERATORS INSIDE THE HOME OR EVEN IN THE GARAGE.
EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE OPEN, THOSE GENERATE A LOT OF CARBON MONOXIDE THAT CAN, THAT CAN PERMEATE INTO THE HOMES AND CAUSE, UH, A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
DON'T USE YOUR STOVES OR YOUR OVENS TO, TO HEAT YOUR HOME.
IMPROPER BURNING OF, OF THOSE FOSSIL FUELS CAN CREATE CARBON MONOXIDE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF WE HAVE, UH, POWER OUTAGES OR BECAUSE IT'S SO COLD THAT YOU'RE USING YOUR, YOUR, UH, CAR AND THE CHARGER TO, TO CHARGE YOUR PHONES OR WHATEVER, MAKE SURE THAT THAT VEHICLE IS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE.
AGAIN, EVEN IF THE DOOR IS OPEN, THAT CARBON MONOXIDE IS GONNA FILL THAT HOME UP QUICKLY, AND IT CAN BE LETHAL.
WE'VE HAD INSTANCES IN THE PAST, EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE WE, WE GET, UH, CALLS 9 1 1 CALLS FOR ACCIDENTAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISON, AND IT COULD BE AVOIDED.
THE LAST THING IS THAT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PHONE SETTINGS ARE SUCH THAT YOU CAN ACCEPT ALERTS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, UH, MESSAGING.
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THOSE, THOSE, UH, THOSE SETTINGS.
SO, SO YOU CAN RECEIVE CERTAINLY ALERT HOUSTON AND OTHER EMERGENCY, UH, COMMUNICATIONS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MAY, MAY PUT OUT DURING THIS.
THESE, UH, THESE TIMES, SPACE HEATERS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL PUT OUT SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT SPACE HEATERS, IF YOU'RE GONNA USE A SPACE HEATER, LEAVE A THREE FOOT SAFETY ZONE AROUND THOSE, THOSE HEATERS.
ANYTHING THAT'S COMBUSTIBLE WILL, WILL, UH, IS THAT RISK TO CATCH FIRE WHEN THOSE, WHEN YOU USE THOSE HEATERS, DO NOT GO TO SLEEP WITH THE SPACE HEATER ON.
AND THE LAST THING IS, PLUG THOSE THINGS DIRECTLY INTO THE WALL OUTLET.
[00:10:01]
DON'T USE EXTENSION CORDS OR ANYTHING THAT CAUSES OVERHEATING AND THOSE, UH, RUN A RISK OF, OF CATCHING FIRE.SO WITH THAT, UM, WE'LL BE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
I GUESS WE'RE GONNA BRING UP CHIEF EUNUCH.
AND, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, IN, UH, TELLING, UH, ALL THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S GONNA BE ON ALL HANDS ON DECK.
EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT IS PARTICIPATING IN ASSISTING, UH, IN THIS, UH, EXPECTED EMERGENCY THAT WE HAVE COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, DOES HAVE A PLAN.
WE DO HAVE EXPERIENCE, UM, ESPECIALLY THROUGH, UH, WINTER STORM URI IN DECEMBER, 2022.
WE WILL BE, UH, OPENING UP OUR EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER WHERE WE, WHERE WE WILL BE ASSISTED BY LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, UM, REPRESENTATIVES.
WE'RE ALSO IN CLOSE CONTACT, AND WE HAVE UP WITH US HERE TODAY, UH, CENTER POINT ENERGY.
AND, UM, WE'LL BE, UH, MONITORING, UH, THE, THE ERCOT GRID ALONG WITH THEM.
UM, WE'LL ALSO BE MONITORING THE, UH, TRANSFER CAMERAS, UH, FOR ANY, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, ICING, UH, ON THE ROADWAYS, BUT WE'RE IN A POSITION TO, UH, RESPOND TO AND COORDINATE, UH, ANY DIFFERENT TYPE OF EVENT THAT WILL COME IN THE CITY.
UH, NEXT I'D LIKE TO, UH, CALL UP EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR TOM MUNOZ.
AND HE'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS ON THE WARMING CENTERS.
UH, BUNI, CHIEF MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL BE OPERATING SIX WARMING CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
ALL FROM 8:00 PM TO 8:00 AM ON BOTH DAYS.
SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, UH, WE DO HAVE THESE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ARE ACRES, HOMES, DENVER HARBOR, SUNNYSIDE, AND THE METROPOLITAN ON WEST GRAY, AS WELL AS FOND COMMUNITY CENTER DOWNTOWN RECOVERY CENTER.
JUST RECENTLY, WE JUST ADDED MAGNOLIA PARK MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
UH, ALL THESE LOCATIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE BY METRO AND WILL ACCEPT PETS.
DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE LOCATION, PETS MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE KEPT IN THE KENNELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON SITE.
WE'RE GLAD TO SAY THAT THANKS TO STRONG PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH LAKEWOOD CHURCH AND ALE FAMILY, YMCA WILL BE OPERATING THOSE SAME HOURS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE ALSO RE, UH, RECEIVED MANY REQUESTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO VOLUNTEER OR OPERATE AS WARMING CENTERS.
IF THAT IS, PLEASE, IF THAT IS ONE OF YOU AND ONE OF YOUR CHURCH GROUPS, ONCE, UH, IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, OR PLEASE CONTACT US AT OEM MEDIA@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
ONCE AGAIN, OEM MEDIA@HOUSTONTX.GOV SO WE CAN COORDINATE AND SHARE YOUR INFORMATION.
AS PART OF OUR EXTREME WEATHER EMERGENCY PLAN, THE CITY OFFERS FREE RIDES TO THESE WARMING CENTERS AND LOCATIONS.
IF YOU NEED A FREE RIDE, YOU CAN CONTACT 3 1 1 BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, DOWNLOADING THE APP, AND SENDING AN EMAIL OR MAKING A CALL.
WHEN WE HAVE WINTER STORMS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOUR PS PEOPLE, PIPES, AND PLANTS.
PLEASE CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE EITHER ELDERLY OR LIVE ALONE.
YOU NEVER KNOW YOU COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SAVING THEIR LIVES.
IF SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY, UH, HAS A DISABILITY ACCESS OR FUNCTIONAL NEEDS, REMEMBER TO HAVE THE PLAN THAT INCLUDES YOUR, YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.
IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH A GREAT PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIPS, UH, WITH THE MAYORS OF OFFICE, OFFICE OF PEOPLES OF DISABILITIES.
SO PLEASE CONTACT THEM FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR YOU COULD LISTEN OUR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CENTER POINT.
THEY MAINTAIN THE SERVICE RELIABILITY.
THEY'RE ON NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE RESERVES, AND THEY MONITOR THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, AND WE'LL BE OUT DOING SO THROUGHOUT THE STORM.
WE'VE BEEN EXERCISING, WORKING WITH ALL THOSE STAKEHOLDERS, GREAT PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU SEE BEHIND US, AND BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.
WE WANT YOU TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE PREPARED.
HOUSTON, O-E-M-O-E-M AND THE REST OF THE CITY STAKEHOLDERS ARE COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY AGAINST ALL HAZARDS.
I'M, UH, DIRECTOR CAROL HADDOCK WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE 4,000 MEN AND WOMEN OF HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, IT'S MY, MY HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT HOW WE ARE MAKING
[00:15:01]
SURE THAT WE ARE PART OF THE PREPARATIONS.UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE, UH, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE STREETS.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE WATER SYSTEM FIRST.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT UPDATES FOR RESILIENCE IN THE WATER SYSTEM.
UH, WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT ALL PIPES THAT ARE OUTSIDE AT OUR FACILITIES ARE WRAPPED, THAT THEY'VE BEEN COVERED, THAT THEY'VE BEEN WINTERIZED.
UH, OUR GENERATORS THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND AT OUR TREATMENT FACILITIES, UH, HAVE ALL BEEN TESTED.
THEY'RE ON A ROUTINE TESTING, UH, SYSTEM, BUT WE TESTED THEM ALL AGAIN THIS WEEK JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TOPPED UP THE FUEL.
IF IT'S A FUEL TANK THAT IS A LIQUID FUEL, NOT, UH, NATURAL GAS THROUGH CENTER POINT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THAT'S THERE AND WE HAVE OUR FUEL TRUCKS READY TO ROLL IF WE NEED THEM.
IN ADDITION, IS THE TEMPERATURE BEGINS TO DROP.
WE WILL ACTUALLY CYCLE THOSE GENERATORS ON AND OFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, WARM, THAT THE BLOCKS DO NOT FREEZE, AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE OPERATIONAL THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, SHOULD WE NEED THEM.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE THOUGH, IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTERPOINT, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A HEADS UP, SHOULD WE HAVE ANY INTERRUPTION OR ANY EXPECTED INTERRUPTION IN POWER DELIVERY.
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THE, THE HEADS UP THAT THEY HAVE.
IT MAY BE AS SHORT AS HALF AN HOUR, UH, BUT, UH, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US THE HEADS UP THEY HAVE SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY READY TO KEEP EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.
UH, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, TO, TO GET THE WATER SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING.
UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THOSE PRESSURES UP.
UH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PIPES IN YOUR HOUSES FOR A MINUTE.
WE DO SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT YOU NOT DRIP THE WATER, BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP YOUR PIPES FROM FREEZING IS TO NOT HAVE WATER IN THEM.
WE'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO TURN THE VALVE OFF AT THE HOUSE AND LET THOSE PIPES DRAIN OUT THROUGH YOUR FAUCET.
YOUR PIPES CAN'T FREEZE IF THERE'S NO WATER IN THEM TO FREEZE.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT OPTION PHYSICALLY.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT, OR YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT VALVE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IN THOSE CASES, WE'RE GONNA ASK THAT YOU BE VERY MINDFUL AND THAT YOU DO NOT DRIP A STREAM OF WATER, BUT THAT IT IS TRULY A DRIP AND THAT IT'S FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE, THE FAUCET AND THE METER SO THAT YOU KEEP THAT WATER MOVING THROUGH THE PIPES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, FLOWING WATER IS LESS LIKELY TO FREEZE.
UH, SO IF YOU WILL WORK WITH US ON THAT, THAT WILL HELP KEEP THE PRESSURES UP IN THE SYSTEM.
AND, AND PLEASE, IF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF DRAINING YOUR PIPES, PLEASE DO MAKE THAT THAT DRIP VERY, VERY SLOW AND VERY SMALL.
AS FOR OUR STREETS, UH, THE, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UH, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UH, IS TAKING CARE OF THE FREEWAYS, THE OVERPASSES, EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE.
UH, WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE, UH, THE STREETS THAT BELONG TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE STREETS AROUND THE AIRPORT, THE MEDICAL CENTER.
UH, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE OVERPASSES, THE BRIDGES THAT, THAT ACCESS THOSE CRITICAL FACILITIES ARE BEING PRETREATED TODAY.
UH, WE NEED THAT TREATMENT TO BE DOWN BEFORE WE WOULD EXPERIENCE ANY RAIN, SO THAT IT WILL DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO, SHOULD WE GET RAIN AND FREEZING.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BARRICADES THAT ARE BEING STAGED AROUND TOWN, SHOULD WE HAVE, UH, STREETS THAT DO FREEZE UP, AND WE HAVE, UH, TRUCKS THAT ARE READY TO DEPLOY, UH, WITH, UH, DEICING, UM, UH, SAND AND OR GRAVEL.
UH, IF WE DO HAVE ICE THAT APPEARS ON ROADWAYS, IF YOU DO SEE THAT, UH, CALL 3 1 1, WE WILL GET IT TO OUR CREWS AND WE WILL GET OUT AND DO IT.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE MIND ALL THESE, UH, THESE ASKS AND REQUESTS THAT YOU MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND KEEP YOURSELF SAFE FIRST.
UH, THAT IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOU AND HELP US KEEP YOU SAFE.
WELL SAFE, BEFORE WE, UH, OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS, I WANT TO THANK THIS TEAM BEHIND ME, UH, THE PROFESSIONALISM.
THEY'RE PREPARED TO WORK INTO THE NIGHT.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR RANK AND FILE ON THE STREETS AS WE TALK.
DON'T MAKE ME HAVE TO CHANGE MY MESSAGE,
BUT LET ME JUST, UH, THANK HIM AND, AND I KNOW PRESS YOU PLAY SUCH A ACTIVE ROLE.
GIVE THESE PEOPLE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL CAN SHOW A LITTLE EMOTION TOO.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE LEADERSHIP? CAN WE, A LOT OF QUESTIONS GONNA COME FOR CENTER POINT TOO.
WE GOT JASON HERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
COME ON UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
THEY, THEY GONNA BE ASKING ABOUT YOU ANYWAY.
AND THEN WE'LL, CENTERPOINT'S GOT THE EASY JOB.
ALL Y'ALL GOTTA DO IS KEEP THE POWER COMING AND WE'LL DO THE REST.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO REASSURE 'EM THAT, THAT YOU'RE ON ALL HANDS ON DECK TOO? OF COURSE, MAYOR.
SO, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALSO YOUR TEAM FOR THE CON CONSTANT COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP THEY'VE HAD WITH US AS WE'VE, UH, WORKED TOGETHER FOR THIS EVENT.
BUT AS WE BRACE FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CODE OF TEMPERATURES, WE ARE PREPARED AND STAFFED TO DEAL
[00:20:01]
WITH PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS THAT RECEIVE SERVICE FROM OUR ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, WE'VE BEEN TAKING SEVERAL STEPS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.SO WE'D ENCOURAGE OUR CUSTOMERS TO, UH, IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THESE OUTLETS, OR TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGES, ESPECIALLY AROUND SAFETY AND ENERGY SAVING TIPS, UH, IN THE EVENT OF, UH, UH, CONSERVATION BEING ASKED FOR.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALSO PROVIDE UPDATES TO OUR IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
YOU WANT TO, UH, LET MR. ANGEL SPEAK YEP.
TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY? MAYOR, YOU WANNA HAND THE MIC TO, TO HIM? OKAY.
AND I HOPE FOR YOU, MAYOR, TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND LEADERS THAT ARE, ARE BEHIND ME TODAY.
UM, NOT JUST FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT FOR ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS ALSO PART OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
AND SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAS COMMITTED THEIR TIME TO ENSURE THAT DURING THIS PROCESS PEOPLE HAVE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION SO THAT THEY ARE INFORMED, UH, ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, TO MY RIGHT, WE HAVE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, UM, READY TO TRANSLATE.
WE WILL HAVE THOSE FOLKS READY ALSO DURING MONDAY AND TUESDAY, IF THAT NEED IS, IS, UH, IS NECESSARY.
UH, WE ALSO WILL HAVE OUR STAFF AVAILABLE, UH, TO RECEIVE CALLS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT NEED RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY DURING THIS, UH, HARD TIME.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE DON'T NEED THOSE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES BECAUSE NOTHING IS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT, UH, BUT IN THAT CASE, WE'LL BE READY TO GO.
AND SO WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE HOUSTON DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
AND MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, WE'LL OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.