[Press Conference: “Winter Storm Update and Safety Tips”]
[00:00:18]
LET ME, UH, EMPHASIZE THAT OUR PREPARATION IS WORKING.
CITY'S BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS ARCTIC BLAST SINCE LAST THURSDAY.
WE ACTUALLY HAD WARMING CENTERS OPEN LAST WEEKEND, BUT LISTENING TO THE WEATHER SERVICE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, AND OTHER EXPERTS, THEY'VE STARTED CAUTIONING US LAST THURSDAY.
SO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THIS EMERGENCY CENTER'S BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK SINCE LAST THURSDAY, AND THE PREPARATION IS WORKING.
I WANT TO THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THEIR COLLABORATION, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOU'VE GOT ABOUT TWO HOURS LEFT TO DO YOUR SHOPPING, 10 TO BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE ON OUR ROADS.
THEN I WOULD ASK YOU TO STAY AT HOME AND LEAVE OUR ROADS FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
LAST NIGHT, OUR WARMING CENTERS HAD 609 PARTICIPANTS.
FONDE WAS THE LARGEST, MAXED OUT AT 198.
CASHMERE HAD A 38 EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE IMPORTANT.
I HAD THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THREE.
IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU TALK TO INDIVIDUALS THAT FIND THEMSELVES IN A WARMING CENTER WHILE THEY'RE THERE, WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH PLAYS A HUGE ROLE, BUT ALSO JUST BAD LUCK IN INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
SOMEONE WENT SOMEWHERE IN THEIR CAR AND THEIR BATTERY WENT DEAD.
CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER LA BATTERY.
WE'RE ADDRESSING THESE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS AND I WANT TO THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR COLLABORATING WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF SUPPORT AND OFFER OF ASSISTANCE THAT I'M RECEIVING FROM ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE CHALLENGES WHICH WE MEET AND I WANT TO THANK MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, THE RANK AND FILE CITY EMPLOYEES, CERTAINLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WERE ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON, LITERALLY ALL NIGHT.
SOME STAYING HERE, SLEEPING AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, BUT HOUSTONIANS, AS I SAID, OPENING, IT'S NO TIME TO LET UP.
I ASK YOU TO LOWER YOUR ACTIVITIES, STAY AT HOME, LOOK OUT, OUT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE, OUR SENIORS, OUR PETS, OUR PLANTS METRO WILL CLOSE ITS OPERATION AT 9:00 PM TONIGHT.
WE'LL REOPEN AND VIEW VIEW THINGS ON WEDNESDAY.
THE AIRPORT'S CLOSING AT MIDNIGHT.
MOST CITY DEPARTMENTS, EXCEPT FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW.
WE'LL CONSIDER WEATHER CONDITIONS TOMORROW, PROBABLY AROUND NOON, AND SEE IF WE OUGHT TO ALSO CLOSE CITY OPERATIONS, MUNICIPAL COURTS, OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON WEDNESDAY, AS YOU KNOW, HISD AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS DISTRICTS ARE CLOSED TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM.
COLLABORATION IS WORKING AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THE EMERGENCY CENTER IS ALREADY SENT US ENOUGH BLANKETS TO GET US THROUGH THURSDAY, WE BELIEVE WE'LL FURNISH ONE TO EVERYONE THAT SHOWS UP AT A WARMING CENTER.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH US.
COMMISSIONER BRIANIS IS OPENING UP BAILIN AS A WARMING CENTER IN COOPERATION WITH THE RED CROSS.
OUR NONPROFITS ARE WORKING WITH US, SO I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW COMING TOGETHER HAVING A UNITED COMMUNITY IS GONNA GET US THROUGH THIS ARCTIC BLAST.
IT'S A SERIOUS ONE, AND AS I SAID, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT TWO HOURS.
WE ARE TOLD THAT IT WILL PROBABLY GET HERE SOONER THAN THE MIDNIGHT THAT WAS ESTIMATED.
NOW, EXPECT MOISTURE PRECIPITATION TO ENTER OUR AREA AROUND 10 O'CLOCK.
SO THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
EMPHASIZE TO EVERYONE, DO YOUR LAST MINUTE SHOPPING.
THE MAYOR WAS EVEN SEEN SHOPPING AT KROGER WEST GRAY AT NINE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY GROCERIES, BUT I DID WHAT I'M ASKING OTHERS TO DO.
GET PREPARED TO BE IN YOUR HOUSE AND IN YOUR RESIDENCE AND YOUR WARMING PLACE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
WE THINK MAYBE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL NEVER GET ABOVE FREEZING UNTIL PROBABLY THURSDAY.
[00:05:01]
SKIES ON WEDNESDAY AND OTHER DAYS, FOOL YOU.THIS IS A SERIOUS ARCTIC BLAST.
IT'S DANGEROUS, IT'S LIFE THREATENING, AND LET'S GO TO WORK.
I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ASK A COUPLE OF DIRECTORS TO EMPHASIZE THEIR OPERATION.
AND THEN I ACTUALLY WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS PRESS CONFERENCE SO THE PRESS CAN GET OFF OUR ROADS.
Y'ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT Y'ALL, AND SO I WANT TO HAVE EVERYBODY GOING BACK TO WORK.
BUT RANDY, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO TELL US WHAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS DONE TO GET OUR STREETS AND THOROUGHFARES PREPARED FOR THIS ARCTIC BLAST.
UH, LISTEN, I CAN'T UNDERSCORE ENOUGH WHAT THE MAYOR SAID IN THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING OFF THE ROADS.
UH, SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING, EARLY ON PUBLIC WORKS CREWS HAVE BEEN PRE-TREATING OUR ROADS WITH A TYPICAL BRINE SOLUTION THAT WE'VE USED.
UM, BUT I REMIND FOLKS DON'T LET THE PRE-TREATMENT OF ANY OF OUR ROADS AND, AND BY THE WAY, PRIMARILY THAT'S RESTRICTED TO CRITICAL, UH, OVERPASSES, BRIDGES AND FLYOVERS.
SO THIS IS NOT A TREATMENT OF ALL 16,000 LANE MILES OF OUR HOUSTON STREETS.
THIS IS A VERY SELECTIVE SPOT TREATMENT ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT DON'T LET THAT FOOL YOU TO THINK THAT BECAUSE WE'VE TREATED IT THAT MAKES IT SAFE TO DRIVE THERE.
YOU NEED TO STAY OFF THE ROADS.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ALL THE BRINE DOES, IS IT LOWERS THE FREEZING POINT OF THE WATER.
AND AS WE EXPECT TONIGHT, UH, AND TOMORROW AND THROUGH THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE TEMPERATURES TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY LOW.
AND THEN DON'T BE FOOLED WHEN YOU SEE SNOW ON TOP OF IT, THINKING THAT THAT'S ALL THAT THERE IS.
MOST LIKELY THERE'S GONNA BE ICE UNDER THERE.
SO THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO STAY OFF THE ROADS.
PUBLIC WORKS CREWS, OF COURSE, ARE RIDING OUT THE STORM AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REPORT, UH, SUPPORT THE POLICE AND FIRE AS THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER NEEDS FOR FOLKS ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, ON THE WATER SIDE, OF COURSE, AS WE'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE PREPARATIONS YOU CAN AT HOME.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXTERNAL PIPES ARE WRAPPED.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THE SHUTOFF VALVE IN YOUR HOME IS, IN CASE YOU HAVE A CATASTROPHE WITH A, WITH A BURST PIPE SO THAT YOU CAN SHUT THE WATER OFF.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL 3 1 1.
WE CAN HAVE FOLKS HELP WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE IN YOUR HOME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN, UH, PROTECT IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM BURST PIPES AND FLOODING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL 3 1 1.
LIKEWISE, IF FOR SOME REASON YOU SEE A MAJOR WATER MAIN BREAK ACROSS THE CITY DURING THIS FREEZE EVENT, CALL 3 1 1 SO THAT WE CAN DO THE BEST WE CAN TO DISPATCH FOLKS TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE BREAKS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
MO MOST IMPORTANT THING THOUGH, ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROADS.
UH, OUR CREWS ARE GONNA BE DEDICATED TO HELPING SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE.
CHIEF MUNOZ WILL ADDRESS THE DANGERS OF SPACE HEATERS, CARBON MONOXIDE, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN BEING SAFE FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
PRIOR TO THIS, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO, I GOT THE COUNT ON CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS THAT HAVE GONE OFF TODAY IN THE CITY WE'VE HAD 60 SO FAR, THE MAYORS EMPHASIZED CARBON MONOXIDE.
ALSO, PLEASE MONITOR YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? GENERATORS, IF YOU'RE GONNA USE GENERATORS, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE WHERE YOU'RE PLACING THEM NORMALLY THREE FEET FROM THE HOUSE AWAY FROM THE EASEMENTS, SO THAT WAY THAT CARBONIDE DOESN'T GO INTO THE HOMES.
IF YOU DO HAVE YOUR HEATERS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'VE BEEN TESTED ALREADY.
BUT IF YOU DO FEEL SOME SYMPTOMS SUCH AS DIZZINESS, NAUSEA, PLEASE OPEN A WINDOW AND CALL OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH NINE ONE ONE.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF THOSE SPACE HEATERS.
WE CONTINUOUSLY SEE THAT FIREPLACES.
MAKE SURE THAT THE SURROUNDINGS OF THAT FIREPLACE, MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S FLAMMABLE IN THAT AREA THAT COULD CAUSE THOSE FIRES.
WE CONTINUOUSLY SEE AN INCREASE IN FIRES DURING THIS WINTER MONTHS.
CARBON OXIDE POISONING, CANNOT EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.
AGAIN, AS THE MAYORS MENTIONED, POLICE STAY OFF THE ROADS.
AND I WANNA THANK, UH, EVERYBODY BEHIND US WITH A GREAT COLLABORATION.
WE'VE BEEN PLANNING SINCE THURSDAY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE, BUT PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROADS.
AS MAYOR, I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AS YOU'VE HEARD THE FIRE CHIEF TALK ABOUT THEIR PREPARATION AND RESPONSE.
WE HAD TWO SUCCESSFUL PARADES THIS MORNING, TWO MLK PARADES, WHICH I PARTICIPATED IN.
UH, HPD OFFICERS PROTECTED THE SECURITY AND SERVICE FOR BOTH PARADES AND, UH, CHIEF DEO.
IF YOU'LL COME SPEAK TO ALL HANDS ON DECK, YOU GO THROUGH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THIS ARCTIC BLAST CHALLENGE.
[00:10:02]
GOOD AFTERNOON.JUST TO EMPHASIZE WHAT THE MAYOR'S SAYING, WE ARE SO PREPARED, UH, THAT WE HAVE OUR TEAM STAYING OVER.
THE ONE WORKING OVERNIGHT IS OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM.
THEY'RE GONNA PUT DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE THAT IS IN NEED OF HELP, PLEASE CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE WILL TRY OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM TO A LOCATION, GET THEM A BLANKET, GETTING SOME SOMETHING WARM.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT A TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL BE OUT HERE AS SOON AS WE LEAVE HERE.
WE'LL BE OUT WORKING AGAIN TONIGHT.
BUT PLEASE, IF YOU CAN STAY HOME, STAY HOME.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR INTERSTATE SYSTEM IS ENORMOUS HERE IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE A LOT OF CROSS TRAFFIC, A LOT OF VISITING TRAFFIC THAT COMES THROUGH.
SO THERE WILL BE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC ON OUR INTERSTATES.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE, UH, A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN STAY HOME, PLEASE STAY HOME, TAKE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES.
UH, IF YOU GET OUT AND YOU DO HAVE A CRASH, CALLING 9 1 1 MULTIPLE TIMES IS NOT GONNA GET THE POLICE THERE ANY SOONER.
SO BE PATIENT FOR US TO GET THERE.
WE'RE GONNA GET THERE AS SOON AS WE CAN.
SO PLEASE, UH, TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
WE'VE BEEN READY SINCE THURSDAY, SO EVERYBODY'S ON DECK EVERY, BECAUSE THE CITY IS SO LARGE, THE WEATHER WILL BE DIFFERENT IN KINGWOOD TO CLEAR LAKE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE PREPARED.
WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE RESOURCES IF WE NEED 'EM.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS WITH TDOT.
AND THE T DM IS HERE SUPPORTING US AS WELL.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PREPARED.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THE MEDIA FOR COMING AND REPORTING THIS.
NO POPULATION IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY LEADERSHIP THAN OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
THE CHIEF AND I WERE WORKING THE STREETS DOWNTOWN, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO TO FONDE.
AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PERSUADE SEVERAL HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, RESISTED.
BUT YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO BE PASSIONATE.
YOU HAVE TO BE, JUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THEIR PETS, GO WITH THEM.
WE HAVE BARK AT OUR WARMING CENTERS, AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HOMELAND SECURITY MOSTLY DEALT WITH SECURITY THREATS ACROSS OUR CITY, OUR MAJOR EVENTS.
BUT UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, I TOOK THE GOOD JUDGMENT OF CHIEF SATTERWHITE COMING OUT OF HPD FOR YEARS, DEALING WITH THE OUTREACH TEAM ON THE STREETS OF HOUSTON, AND NOW HE'S OUR HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR, BUT THEY ALSO ARE FOCUSING ON THE HOMELESS CHIEF SATELLITE.
IF YOU'LL GIVE US A REPORT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE WARMING CENTERS LAST NIGHT AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO REACH THIS POPULATION THAT SOMETIME DOESN SEE THE NECESSITY OF GETTING OUT OF THIS THREATENING WEATHER.
YEAH, SO I, I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THANK EVERYBODY.
THANK CHIEF DIAZ AND CHIEF BANIN FROM METRO.
UH, TODAY WE WERE OUT ON SHATRI, UH, OFFERING HELP METRO, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, HOT TEAM, HPD HOT TEAM, AS WELL AS METRO BUS DRIVERS.
AND WE WERE OFFERING HELP AND TRYING TO GET 'EM OFF.
IT IS A CHALLENGE, UH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM, FOR A LOT OF REASONS, DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE SHELTERS.
DO NOT, THEY EVEN SEE THEIR OWN POTENTIAL RISK AT HAND HERE.
SO YOU JUST CONTINUE TO TALK TO 'EM, TRY TO BUILD TRUST AND TRY TO GET 'EM THERE.
I WILL ALSO SAY, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS HERE AT THE HECK AT OUR HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER.
OUR, UH, DISPATCHERS, OUR NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS, UH, BOTH FIRE AND POLICE AND OUR 9 1 1 GREATER HOUSTON 9 1 1.
THEY CAME IN, UH, TODAY AND THEY WILL BE SLEEPING, STAYING OVERNIGHT, AND TWO SHIFTS.
SO THEY ARE, UH, NOT PAID LIKE WE'D LIKE TO PAY THEM YET THEY STILL SHOW UP AND THEY STILL COMMIT THEIR TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO BE HERE AND TAKE CARE OF ALL OF YOU.
AND OF COURSE, TO ALL OF OUR, UH, WARMING CENTERS, BOTH THE ONES OPERATED BY THE CITY AND BY OTHER, UH, ENTITIES, JURISDICTIONS, UH, THOSE ARE VOLUNTEERS IN SOME CASES, BUT A LOT OF 'EM ARE EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, THEY'RE GIVING UP THEIR TIME AWAY FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES TO BE AT THOSE FACILITIES TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST, UH, VULNERABLE.
SO AGAIN, WHEN YOU SEE THEM, PLEASE TELL THEM.
BRIAN MASON, WHO RUNS OUR EMERGENCY CENTER, UH, STAFF, IS STAYING HERE 7 24 HOURS A DAY.
UH, BEFORE WE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA ASK ANNA WITH MY OFFICE TO COME SPEAK TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS.
I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING THE ONLY ONES I CAN FIND SO FAR THAT ARE CHEERING FOR THE SNOW ARE FOR MY GRANDKIDS.
THE GRANDKIDS HAVEN'T SEEN SNOW, SO I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR PARTNERS, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR PETS, AND UH, LET'S MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK AT AND LEARN FROM AND BE STRONGER GOING THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES.
AND IF YOU'LL TRANSLATE FOR US.
[00:16:30]
VERY GOOD.THIS TIME, WE'LL, UH, ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS.
MARIO, UH, YOU AND RANDY WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER NOT TO LET YOUR PIPES GRIP OR SMOOTH FLOW.
IS ANY OF THAT POSITION CHANGED? NO.
WE, WE, UH, ASKED YOU TO WRAP YOUR PIPES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IF EVERYONE DRIPPED THEIR PIPE AT THE SAME TIME, IT WOULD CREATE A PRESSURE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY TAKES A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH, BUT WE MONITOR, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON FURNISHES WATER FOR OUR REGION.
UH, LIKE OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVE THEIR WATER FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO WE MONITOR THE PRESSURE IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
BUT AS WE TALK TODAY, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND, UH, WOULD ASK PEOPLE TO TAKE MEASURES LIKE WRAPPING THEIR PIPE, OPENING THEIR CABINET DOORS, AND, UH, USING COMMON SENSE.
AND, AND IS THERE, IF I GO CHIEF WILLIAMS ON THIS, IS THERE A, A BIT OF A SILVER LINING THAT THIS STORM IS COMING IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND THE CITY TO DAYTIME AND EMERGENCY CALLS? YES.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE, AND, AND THANKS TO THE MAYOR'S SUPPORT, WE'VE GOT TWO SHIFTS NOW.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE SHIFT THAT SAR TOMORROW COME IN TODAY ALREADY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND FOR THE MAIN REASON IS SAFETY, BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO GET THEM IN.
AND, UH, SO YES, WE WILL CONTINUE THE OPERATIONS AS NORMAL, UH, AND WE'LL BE MONITORING THE WEATHER, BUT AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY GOT OUR SHIFTS THAT ARE GONNA BE OVERLAPPING TO MAKE SURE THEY GET TO US SAFELY AND THEY'RE NOT OUT IN THE ROADS IN, IN THE, IN THE TROU CONDITIONS STORM OVERNIGHT.
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE STORM GETTING OVERNIGHT AS IT GOES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, WELL, NOTHING, IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING THAT I'VE SAID.
LET'S LOOK OUT FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, THE HOMELESS, OUR PETS.
AND THAT'S, UH, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T LET UP AT THIS POINT.
THE STORM IS GONNA PROBABLY GET HERE A COUPLE HOURS SOONER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
ALL I CAN DO IS LISTEN TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER, WEATHER SERVICE, BUT, UH, YEAH, I, UH, WE'RE PREPARED WHENEVER IT GETS HERE.
HOW ABOUT THAT? AND LIKE I SAID, ONE OF MY BIG CHALLENGES IS I WANT THE WEATHER TO BE AS MILD AS POSSIBLE, AND I GOT GRANDKIDS THAT WANT A LOT OF SNOW, SO I GOTTA, YOU KNOW, I GOTTA DEAL WITH THAT CRISIS THAT IN THE FAMILY, BUT, UH, EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
MARY, DO YOU, UH, TOUCH ON THE Z TRIP CARS THAT ARE, UH, IN PLACE TO TAKE PEOPLE TO THE WARMING CENTERS AND HOW MANY OF THOSE YOU GUYS HAVE IN SERVICE? YEAH, LET ME CHIEF SAID, WHAT DO WE HAVE? SO, YEAH, ARE ARE CHRIS, ARE YOU HANDLING THAT? LET ME YIELD TO CHRIS.
I DIDN'T, TAKING PEOPLE TO WARMING CENTERS, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN SERVICE? I THINK THEY'RE CALLED Z TRIP.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM.
SO WE'VE HAD, UM, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF CAPACITY ALL DAY WITH OUR ZZ TRIP TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS.
AS OF EARLIER THIS MORNING, THEY HAD PROVIDED MORE THAN 92 TRIPS TO WARMING CENTERS.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS OPERATING 10 OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTERS.
THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE UNTIL THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD MAKE IT UNSAFE TO CONTINUE THOSE OPERATIONS, BUT WE WILL MAINTAIN THAT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT THAT IT'S UNSAFE.
YEAH, NO ONE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF CAPACITY.
[00:20:01]
METRO LIFT, HPD AND OTHERS WILL GET YOU THERE.DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY PRE ROAD CLOSURES OR WILL IT JUST HAPPEN AS A, I HADN'T HEARD FROM, FROM RANDY OR, OR FIRST RESPONDERS CO CONTEMPLATING THAT, BUT AS I'VE EMPHASIZED, GET YOUR TRAVELING DONE IN THE NEXT TWO HOURS AND GO HOME AND, UH, LET'S GET THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
MAYOR, CAN WE EXPECT ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, FOOD RESOURCES FOR STAND? WE, WE DO.
UH, THE STATE SENT US, UH, LARGE AMOUNTS OF RES UH, LAST NIGHT WE WERE FEEDING FOLKS.
WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH NONPROFITS, SO WE ARE MAKING CERTAIN THAT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE WARMING CENTERS ARE FED.
UH, I WAS IN ACRES HOME LAST NIGHT.
THERE WAS A DARLING FAMILY WITH THREE YOUNG KIDS THAT WERE TRAVELING FROM CALIFORNIA WANT TO GO TO NEW JERSEY.
THEY WERE LIVING IN THEIR CAR TILL THEY HEARD OUR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE WARMING CENTER.
AND, UH, I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HANDLE THEIR, THEIR CHALLENGES STARTING EARLY THIS MORNING.
IN FACT, WE TRANSFERRED THEM FROM ACRES HOME TO WEST GRADE BECAUSE WE HAD A LITTLE BETTER ROOM FOR PRIVACY FOR A FAMILY OF, OF THREE, UH, YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND, UH, THINGS WE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING GOOD THINGS.
IS IT, IT'S VERY, IT'S VERY REWARDING.
IS IT CORRECT THAT SOME SNACK FOR OTHERS ARE
WE HAVE MEALS, WE HAVE SNACKS.
UH, A LOT OF FOLKS, IT DEPENDS ON THE DURATION OF THEIR, OF THEIR STAY THERE.
SOME ACTUALLY WANT TO GO BACK HOME DURING THE DAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY, MY VISION FOR HANDLING AND HELPING THE HOMELESS IS INDIVIDUAL CASEWORKERS.
I MEAN, I, I KNOW FOR A FACT IF, IF I COULD TALK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE PERSONS IN THE WARMING CENTERS, SEE WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, WORKING WITH MY PROFESSIONAL, UH, STAFF AND RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AND RECOVERY.
ANGELA BLANCHARD IS BRILLIANT.
RAN BAKER RIPLEY FOR YEARS, THE LARGEST SOCIAL AGENCY IN THE, IN THE CITY.
AND NOW SHE'S ONE OF MY DEPARTMENT HEADS.
SO IF I COULD GET TO EVERY FAMILY, EACH INDIVIDUAL, THERE WAS A LADY, UH, AT FONDE LAST NIGHT SAID SHE HADN'T HAD POWER SINCE BARRELL.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER ELECTRICAL, UH, CIRCUITS.
SO WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES LIKE NO OTHER CITY IN AMERICA.
WHEN YOU WALKED IN HERE EARLIER, THERE WAS A FELLOW CHECKING IN.
IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS HERE FROM WICHITA FALLS TO HELP.
CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT OUT COUNTY, UH, RESOURCES OR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, I, I REFERENCED EARLIER I WANTED TO THANK HOUSTONIANS, BUT ALSO THE REGION AND THE STATE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE GET MY CELL NUMBER OTHER THAN I GIVE IT OUT VERY FREELY.
BUT MY PHONE IS FULL OF OFFERS TO HELP HOUSTONIANS PEOPLE LIKE HOUSTONIANS.
AND LET ME SPEAK TO THE MORALE OF OUR CITY.
THE MORALE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR CITY EMPLOYEES HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE SPIRIT, THE CAN-DO ATTITUDE THAT'S REPRESENTED BEFORE YOU TODAY.
SO YES, IF SOMEONE FROM OUT OF TOWN SHOWS UP OFFERING THE HELP, CERTAINLY WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL ASSIST THEM AND SHOW THEM OUR WARMING CENTERS IF THEY'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION.
NOW WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE ALL THE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE MET MOVED THE YOUNG KIDS FROM ONE CENTER TO ANOTHER.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD PROTECT THEM BETTER FROM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T SEARCH FOLKS, WE DON'T DO BACKGROUND CHECKS.
ANYONE CAN SHOW UP AND GET ASSISTANCE, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE PROTECTED AND SAFE.
SO CERTAINLY, UH, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
THE STATE COLLABORATION WITH NIM KID IN EMERGENCY CENTER IN AUSTIN IS JUST THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY ARE SO PROACTIVE AND WE WORK WITH 'EM IN A PROACTIVE MODE TO GET THE SUPPLIES DOWN HERE BEFORE, UH, ACTUALLY BEFORE THEY'RE NEEDED.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT ABOUT TWO HOURS LEFT OF PREPARATION AND THEN I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO STAY OFF OUR ROADS.
RESERVE THE SPACE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR PETS, YOUR PLANTS, YOUR MOST VULNERABLE, OUR SENIORS.
WE HAVE SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING.
IF YOU HAVE A MOTHER, FATHER, OR ELDERLY PERSON, CHECK ON 'EM IN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS.
YOU TOUCHED BASE AT ALL WITH CENTER POINT OR RELYING ON
WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH JASON WELLS.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CEO OF CENTER POINT.
THEY BROUGHT IN LARGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, BEING PROACTIVE.
UH, THEY'RE WORKING WITH ERCOT IN AUSTIN, UH, WITH A PUC.
[00:25:01]
WE REALLY DON'T VIEW THIS AS A ENERGY CHALLENGE ALWAYS.YOU DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
THAT'S THE REASON THEY'RE BEING SO, UH, COLLABORATIVE WITH US.
THEY'VE GOT RESOURCES ON THE GROUND HERE.
YOU KNOW, UH, I COULD GIVE A, A TALK AS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, THE STATE AND ITS GROWTH HAS TO GET READY FOR MORE GENERATION, BUT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT WE DO EMPHASIZE TO AUSTIN WE'RE WE HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND, AND LIFE AND WELFARE.
I LIKE, UH, CHIEF MUNOZ, IF YOU COULD, UH, STEP UP TO PODIUM.
TALK ABOUT THE MESSAGE AND, AND CLARIFY.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS, UH, PRIOR TO THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD 60, UH, CALLS FOR THE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM SYSTEMS GOING OFF.
SO OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING OUT THERE.
WE DO HAVE EXTRA CARBON MONOXIDE, UH, DETECTORS THROUGH OUR, THROUGHOUT, WITHIN OUR TRUCKS AND ALONG WITH EQUIPMENT AS WELL THAT WE'RE GONNA BE UTILIZING.
AND WHAT'S LIKE THE TIMEFRAME, BUT FOR THE 60 CALLS, WE'VE HAD IT SINCE MIDNIGHT YESTERDAY.
WHAT YOUR THINK TOO, IT'S OBVIOUS, BUT WHAT, WELL, A LOT OF THINGS, OBVIOUSLY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE HEATERS, PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THEY, THEY HAVEN'T REALLY CRANKED UP THEIR HEATERS THROUGHOUT THE, THE YEAR.
ONCE THEY DO THAT, THERE'S THAT POSSIBILITY OF CARBON OXIDE, BUT ALSO GENERATORS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO USE.
THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH ELECTRICITY, SO THEY USE THE GENERATORS, WHICH DOES CREATE THAT COMMON OXIDE POISONING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC CONTINUOUSLY.
WE'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH Y'ALL TOMORROW.
YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR YOUR LIFETIME.
DO YOU EVER RECALL A TIME WITH THIS MUCH SNOW IN HOUSTON? NO.
THERE'S THE IDEA THAT THERE COULD BE THE FALL SUMMIT OF SOME OF THE SNOW MELTING, FREEZING ON THE ROAD, AND THEN THERE'S STILL SNOW.
DO WE HAVE A PLAN HOW IT'S GONNA BE CLEARED IN THE DAYS TO COME? YES.
WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING, UH, IN COOPERATION WITH TXDOT.
THEY'RE BRINGING ACTUALLY SOME SNOWPLOWS FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE.
SO WE'RE, IT'S, IT IS KIND OF BASED ON SITUATION.
WE'RE, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO GET READY.
WE TOOK THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
PUBLIC WORKS IS IN CONTACT WITH TXDOT, SO IF SNOW IS SUFFICIENT, AND WE NEEDED TO CLEAR OUR THOROUGHFARES AND OUR, CERTAINLY OUR, UH, TDO HIGHWAYS THROUGH HOUSTON.
SO WE'VE CHECKED EVERY BOX AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE AS PREPARED AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE ROAD.
IT LOWERS THE FREEZING POINT OF THE WATER.
WHAT IS THAT FREEZING POINT? WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOOKING OUT FOR? WHERE DO YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT? I DON'T WANNA ACT OVERLY SCIENTIFIC ON THIS IT, BUT IT, I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD LAWYER ANSWER I LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL.
AND THAT IS, IT DEPENDS, UH, IT DEPENDS ON ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
WHERE THE ROAD'S AT, WHAT THE SURFACE TYPE IS.
IS THIS AN ELEVATED STRUCTURE? IS IT CLOSER TO THE GROUND? UH, BUT THAT'S WHERE I ALSO EMPHASIZE TO FOLKS, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE TOO COMFORTABLE THINKING THAT BECAUSE WE'VE PRETREATED A PARTICULAR BRIDGE OR OVERPASS THAT, THAT MAKES IT SAFE TO DRIVE.
THE REALITY IS, WITH WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THIS WEATHER TO DO, IT'S ALL GOING TO FREEZE AT SOME POINT.
AND AT A CERTAIN POINT IF IT WARMS UP ENOUGH AND THE TOP SNOW MELTS AND THEN IT GETS COLD, AND THEN THAT REFREEZES, YOU MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A LITTLE PATTERN THAT'S TAKING PLACE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS WHY AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA GONNA CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN TOMORROW, SEE WHAT THE CONDITIONS LOOK LIKE.
BUT YOU KNOW, MOST FOLKS REALLY SHOULD PREPARE TO BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND TO PLAN TO STAY PUT, STAY OFF THE ROAD, STAY PUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THIS IS, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE WEATHER EXPERTS ARE TELLING US IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR HOUSTON.
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TO TAKE UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES, WHICH IS STAY OFF THE ROADS.WERE ANY WORK DONE TO TRIM TREES OR KEEP ANY LIFT FROM MOW ON CARS OR POWER LINES AS THEY GET LAID DOWN? I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
WE'RE SO BUSY TAKING CARE OF THE, UH, THOROUGHFARE AND, UH, PREPARATION WITH PIPES, PETS, PLANTS, SENIORS, UH, THE VEGETATION, NO.
UH, I WILL EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT CENTERPOINT'S BEEN WORKING SINCE BARREL AND, UH, THEY COULD SPEAK TO THAT, BUT THEY'VE DONE A, A REALLY LARGE JOB OF, OF VEGETATION CONTROL AND TRIMMING.
I, I WOULD FOLLOW YOUR QUESTION WITH, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE ROADS IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS, REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND, AND, UH, YOU JUST CAN'T.
THESE ARE NOT NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO USE COMMON SENSE AND SMARTS AND, UH, LET'S GET THROUGH THIS SAFE.
THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE TOMORROW.