* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Press Conference: "Winter Storm Preparations"] [00:00:18] GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE'VE HAD A REALLY GREAT DAY IN HOUSTON TODAY. WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CHEVRON MARATHON, THE LARGEST IN HISTORY, UH, 33,000 PARTICIPANTS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED THE ROUTE. IT WAS SAFE AND VERY SUCCESSFUL. JUST LIKE TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE OUR MLK MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADES IN THE MORNING. WE EXPECT IT TO BE VERY COLD. PEOPLE NEED TO DRESS ACCORDINGLY, BUT ENJOY THEMSELF. AND HPD AND ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WILL BE THERE TO ASSURE THEIR SAFETY. TODAY, I'VE ASKED FOR THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TO TALK TO HOUSTONIANS. I'VE BEEN CONVINCED THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS WEATHER EPISODE. WE'VE BEEN PREPARING SINCE THURSDAY FOR THE INTENSE TEMPERATURE, BUT NOW WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE WILL BE PRECIPITATION. I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT JOINED ME, PECK CAYMAN MARTINEZ, AND ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT PLAY SUCH A VITAL ROLE IN MAKING HOUSTON SAFE. WE ARE PREPARED, BUT THE REASON I'M SPEAKING TO HOUSTONIANS THIS EVENING IS WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO LET US HELP YOU. WE NEED TO LIMIT OUR ACTIVITY STARTING TOMORROW EVENING. WE'RE ALREADY INITIATING OUR WARMING CENTERS AS WE TALK. WE HAVE 10 CITY OF HOUSTON WARMING CENTERS COVERING THE ENTIRE CITY. WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS TO SEE THAT THE REGION, THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, AND THE INCORPORATED AREA OF HOUSTON AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE COVERED WITH WARMING CENTERS, BUT IT'S MUCH, MUCH MORE IN LIMITING OUR ACTIVITIES. FIRST, HISD HAS CANCELED SCHOOL FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE COURTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED. AND LET ME CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE DURING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WE'RE GONNA BE SAFE. WE'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIVE, BUT WE NEED HOUSTONIANS TO ASSIST US BY LIMITING THEIR ACTIVITIES. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FROM THE CITY TO PREPARE FOR THIS WINTER STORM. PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN OUT TREATING ALL OF OUR STREETS AND THOROUGHFARES TODAY WITH CHEMICALS THAT WILL ASSIST US IN DE-ICING. TXDOT, OUR PARTNER IS HANDLING THE HIGHWAYS AND OVERPASSES. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE TEMPERATURES LIKE WE DID LAST WEEKEND. TONIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK, THE WARMING CENTERS WILL BE OPEN ACROSS HOUSTON. I WILL LEAVE HERE IN ACCOMPANY THE CHIEF AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS TO ENCOURAGE THOSE, THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO STAY ON THE STREETS WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. IT IS SO SAD TO SEE MYSELF AND OTHERS PLEAD WITH THE HOMELESS TO PLEASE GO TO WARMING CENTER. AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, MENTAL HEALTH BEING ONE OF THEM, THEY JUST RESIST. BUT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN. THEY'LL BE FED, AND WE WILL ASSIST THEM IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. TOMORROW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR THE PRECIPITATION THAT WE BELIEVE WILL ARRIVE LATE TOMORROW EVENING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS PROVIDED US WITH AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND MIDNIGHT TOMORROW. SO HOUSTONIANS CAN EXPECT, BASED ON THE DATA, THE COMPUTER MODELS, TO WAKE UP TUESDAY MORNING TO ICY CONDITIONS, SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW, RAIN, AND LIKE I SAID, STAY AT HOME AT, AT ALL POSSIBLE. EMPLOYERS SHOULD USE THEIR JUDGMENT IF THEY'RE NOT ESSENTIAL WORKERS, LET THEM STAY AT HOME. AND WE BELIEVE IT'LL ALSO CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY. OUR WARMING CENTERS, FOR INSTANCE, WILL BE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY UNTIL SOMETIME THURSDAY. BUT I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT HOUSTONIANS ARE GONNA HAVE TO USE COMMON SENSE AND BE SMART. LOOK OUT FOR OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION. IF YOU HAVE SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, CHECK ON THEM. GET YOUR FOOD AND WATER AND SUPPLIES [00:05:01] TOMORROW. PREPARE YOUR HOME, YOUR PLANTS, YOUR PETS BARK WILL BE AT THE WARMING CENTERS TO ASSIST US WITH OUR PETS. SO IT'S KINDA ALL HANDS ON DECK. I LOOK AROUND WITH THESE PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, FIRST RESPONDERS. I'M SO PROUD THAT EVERYONE, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILIES IN HOMES, THAT THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED, ARE TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS IN JOINING ME IN MAKING SURE HOUSTONIANS ARE PROTECTED AND PROVIDED FOR NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR SAFETY. AND TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS STORM. METRO WILL HAVE ITS LINES RUNNING UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK TOMORROW EVENING. THE RAIL WILL CONTINUE ON A LIMITED BASIS TO RUN, BUT MOST PUBLIC FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY. CITY EMPLOYEES CANNOT COME TO WORK ON TUESDAY. THE COURTS ARE CLOSED. WE WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, WES TUESDAY AT NOON AS THE CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY, HISD AS I'VE MENTIONED, AS OTHER AREAS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CLOSED. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND I'LL CALL UPON SOME OF OUR MORE VITAL SERVICES, AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVERYONE BEHIND ME IS PROVIDING WHETHER IT'S OUR STREETS OR AIRPORTS, BUT THE AIRPORT IS CHOSEN, AND I'LL LET OUR DIRECTOR SPEAK TO IT, HIS PRECAUTIONS. SO IF YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL OUT OF BUSH OR HOBBY ON TUESDAY, IT WILL BE CLOSED. LET ME JUST ALSO TALK ABOUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FIRST. I'M SO PROUD OF TODAY'S MARATHON COVERAGE. WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND HPD OFFICERS ALONG THE ROUTE, PARTNERING WITH DPS FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE'RE GONNA SEE THE SAME KIND OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THE REST OF THIS WEEK. FIRST RESPONDERS FIRE AND POLICE ARE WILLING TO WORK OVERTIME. WE'VE ALREADY ADVISED THEM THAT THEY WILL WORK MORE THAN ONE SHIFT. SO THEY'RE WORKING OVERTIME. AND I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND HOUSES THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING HOUSTONIANS SAFETY AT THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY. I'D LIKE TO, AT THIS TIME, ADDRESS THE AIRPORT, AND I'M GONNA ASK THE DIRECTOR TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT THE SERVICE. I'VE ALREADY RECEIVED NOTICES FROM PEOPLE KNOWING CAN THEY EXPECT THEIR ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES FROM BOTH HOBBY AND SOUTHWEST. ALSO, LET ME EMPHASIZE THE PREPARATION OF YOUR PIPES, UH, THE WRAPPING OF YOUR PIPES. WE DISCOURAGED THE LEAKING OF YOUR PIPES BECAUSE IT AFFECTS WATER PRESSURE FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION, BUT WRAP YOUR PIPES AT OF ALL POSSIBLE, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU CAN DRIP 'EM IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE. BUT LET ME CALL JIM AT THIS TIME TO ADDRESS THE OPERATIONS OF OUR AIRPORT. YES, SO, UH, WE'VE COORDINATED WITH OUR AIRLINE PARTNERS, UH, AND FOR TUESDAY, UH, WE WILL HAVE THE AIRPORT WILL BE CLOSED. UM, WE, AT THAT TIME, UH, THE AIRLINES HAVE IN IMPLEMENTED THEIR TRAVEL WAIVER PROGRAMS. SO YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO YOUR AIRLINE AND TO CHANGE YOUR FLIGHTS, UH, WITHOUT CHANGE FEES. SO MAKE SURE YOU, AGAIN, CHECK WITH YOUR AIR, UH, AIRLINE AT THAT. UM, WE WILL AGAIN LOOK AT, UH, FIGHTING ABOUT, SORRY, MONDAY AT MIDNIGHT. UH, WE'LL BE CLOSING THE AIRPORT, AND SO THAT WILL GO THROUGH TUESDAY. ON TUESDAY, AS WE GET LATER INTO THE DAY AND WE SEE WHAT THE STORM HAS IMPACTED THAT WILL, WE WILL SIT, UH, WITH THE AIRLINES AND WE'LL AGAIN, UPDATE WHAT OUR PLAN WILL BE GOING FORWARD FOR POTENTIALLY WEDNESDAY. UH, BUT AGAIN, FOR TUESDAY, WE WILL BE CLOSED, UH, FROM AN AIRPORT PERSPECTIVE. SO PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINES, UH, TO MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS BESIDES TUESDAY, UH, FLYING AT THE AIRPORTS. THANK YOU. WHEN WE THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, EXTRA SHIFTS, I CONSIDER PUBLIC WORKS, FIRST RESPONDERS, TIM, AKA WILL YOU COME, EXPLAIN WHAT PREPARATIONS YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR STREETS AND, UH, CITY OPERATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, CREWS FROM PUBLIC WORKS TODAY BEGIN PRETREATING CRITICAL OVERPASSES, BRIDGES, AND OTHER STREETS AND QUARTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, WILL CONTINUE AND REPEAT THAT TREATMENT AGAIN TOMORROW. OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, HOUSTON'S A, A MASSIVE, UH, HAS A MASSIVE FOOTPRINT, MORE THAN 16,000 SQUARE, UH, LANE MILES OF ROADWAY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, THAT LITERALLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO TREAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE AREAS. SO WE'RE STRATEGICALLY [00:10:01] DEPLOYING WHERE WE CAN TO TREAT IN THOSE CRITICAL AREAS. UH, WHAT I DO WANT TO CAUTION EVERYONE THOUGH, IS THAT AS THE WEATHER COMES IN AND YOU SEE THINGS ON THE GROUND, DON'T LET OUR PRETREATMENT OF THAT AREA FOOL YOU INTO THINKING THAT THAT MAKES IT SAFE. STAY OFF THE ROADS, PLEASE, AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. THE SOLUTION THAT WE APPLY IS A BRINE SOLUTION. REALLY, ALL THAT DOES IS IT LOWERS THE FREEZING POINT OF WATER ON THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T PREVENT WATER FROM FREEZING ONCE IT GETS TOO COLD. AND WE ARE EXPECTING SOME OF THE COLDEST WEATHER WE'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. SO THE ROADS WERE VERY DANGEROUS. UH, THEY MAY BE COVERED WITH SNOW. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE ICE UNDERNEATH THAT. PLEASE STAY OFF. UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO THERE, UM, IS HELPFUL FOR US. REGARDLESS, WE HAVE CREWS THAT ARE RIDING OUT THE STORM AT, UH, CRITICAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THEY'LL BE ASSISTING PRIMARILY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND POLICE AND FIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET TO AREAS THEY NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT AMBULANCE SERVICES HAVE CLEAR PATHS. UH, I DO WANNA MENTION ALSO AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WATER SYSTEM. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS THAT YOU CAN AT HOME, WRAP YOUR PIPES THAT ARE EXPOSED OUTSIDE. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE SHUT OFF YOUR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, YOU'VE DRAINED THEM PROPERLY TO PREVENT ANY SORT OF A CATASTROPHE FROM HAPPENING. KNOW WHERE YOUR SHUT OFF VALVE TO THE WATER SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME IS IF FOR SOME REASON YOU HAVE A BURST PIPE, KNOW WHERE YOU CAN SHUT OFF THE WATER TO YOUR HOME. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FIND THAT OR YOU HAVE A, A PROBLEM THAT PERSISTS, CALL 3 1 1. UH, OUR STAFF WILL WORK WITH YOU TO HELP YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND THAT IN YOUR HOME AND HOW TO SHUT THE WATER OFF. IF YOU SEE A MAJOR ERUPTION OF WATER, A MAJOR WATERLINE BREAK, FOR INSTANCE, PLEASE CALL 3 1 1 IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ADDRESS IT. UH, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT DRIP WATER IN YOUR HOMES TO KEEP IT GOING. OPEN THE CABINETS UNDER YOUR SINKS TO LET THAT GO. WATER PRESSURE IS A, IS A REAL ISSUE WHEN EVERYONE DRIPS WATER AT THE SAME TIME. AND I THINK YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN THE CATASTROPHES WE'VE SEEN WITH THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA TO SEE WHERE HYDRANTS DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE PRESSURE TO THEM. THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU OPEN ALL OF THE SPIGOTS UP AT THE SAME TIME, PRESSURE BECOMES AN ISSUE. AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD FACE THAT HERE IN HOUSTON. SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE AVOID DRIPPING WATER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. BUT REGARDLESS, MAYOR, WE'RE WELL PREPARED. WE HAVE FOLKS THAT'LL BE STAGED AND READY TO GO AND, AND RESPOND AS WE NEED TO. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, YOU SEE AN ISSUE, CONTACT 3 1 1 AND WE'LL RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU, RANDY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO STAY WARM AND BE SAFE, THE FIRE CHIEF PLAYS SUCH A CRITICAL ROLE. I WOULD ASK CHIEF MUNOZ TO COME SPEAK TO SPACE HEATERS AND ALSO OUR DANGER OF CARBON MONOXIDE. TOM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THIS IS GONNA BE A EXTREME WEATHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED, HAS BEEN PLANNING SINCE THURSDAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FULLY STAFFED. SO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON THAT MAYOR AND ADMINISTRATION. AS HE MENTIONED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, DURING THESE TIMES OF, UH, EXTREME, UH, FREEZING TEMPERATURES, PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO MIGHT USE OR WILL USE THEIR GENERATORS, WHICH CREATES CARBON MONOXIDE EVERY YEAR. WE DO SEE SOME PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY, UH, GET OVERCOME BY THE CARBON MONOXIDE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN DEATH. SO WITH THAT SAID, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR GENERATORS. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO RESORT TO USING OPEN FLAMES INSIDE THEIR HOMES, SUCH AS, UH, THE, THE, UH, FIRE PITS THAT THEY USE INSIDE THE HOUSE IN THE GARAGE TO TRY TO KEEP THE HOUSE WARM. PLEASE BE, DO WE DEFINITELY DISCOURAGE YOU FROM DOING THAT, YOUR HEATERS, MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HEATERS ARE WITHIN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE FLAMMABLE, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THE SURROUNDINGS OR WHERE THOSE HEATERS ARE AT. BUT AGAIN, PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROADS AS THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED, AND PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS, WHERE YOU PLACE THOSE OPEN FLAMES. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UH, CHIEF DIAZ, WOULD YOU ADDRESS, UH, OUR HPD OFFICERS IN PARTICULAR, WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE OUTREACH FOR OUR HOMELESS THAT, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT LEADS? AND YOU AND I WILL BE PARTNERING LATER THIS EVENING? SO HOW WOULD SOMEBODY REACH ONE OF THOSE OUTREACH OFFICERS? THANK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, AGAIN, THANK, THANK YOU EVERYBODY. UH, POLICE CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE THE CENTERS OPEN. OUR HOT TEAMS ARE WORKING, UH, AROUND DOWNTOWN, MOSTLY WHERE WE'RE MAKING CONTACT WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. OUR FOCUS IS ON GETTING THEM INTO A SHELTER TO AVOID, UH, A TRAGEDY, UH, LOSS OF A LIFE. BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CONTACTING US. I KNOW SOMETIMES THE HOMELESS POPULATION DOESN'T HAVE CELL PHONES. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY OUT ON THE STREET, THE MAYOR, AND I'LL BE THERE SHORTLY AND [00:15:01] MAKE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE SHELTERS AVAILABLE, THAT THEY CAN BRING THEIR PETS, THAT THERE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD FOR THEM, UH, THAT THEN THE CENTERS WILL BE OPEN UNTIL, UH, PROBABLY THURSDAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE WARM AND THAT THEY'RE SAFE. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO COVER, IF, IF YOU MUST GET OUT, IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK, PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF SOME DISTANCE. SLOW DOWN IF IT'S SNOWING, IF YOU'RE HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DRIVE SLOWER BECAUSE IT, THE ROADS ARE DARK AND YOU MIGHT HIT ON A PATCH OF ICE. UH, AND YOU PUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AT JEOPARDY TRYING TO GET TO YOU, UH, IN AN EVENT LIKE THAT. SO WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO OUR MOTORING PUBLIC. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DRIVING WITH CAUTIOUS WITH CAUTION. IF YOU'RE, UH, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAY HOME. LIKE TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, PLEASE STAY HOME. UH, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE BEEN PLANNING SINCE THURSDAY. IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK. EVERYONE'S WORKING EVERY DIVISION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WORKING, READY TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OUR VULNERABLE, MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION IS A REAL FOCUS FOR ALL OF OURS. SO I WOULD LIKE OUR CHIEF, UH, RECOVERING RESILIENCE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO COME SPEAK HOW WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE NONPROFITS AND OUR CHARITIES TO SEE THAT EVERYONE, UH, IS PROVIDED FOR ANGELA BLANCHARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, UM, ALL OF THE PEOPLE YOU'RE SEEING HERE HAVE MADE OUR PLANS WITH THE UTMOST EMPATHY FOCUSED ON PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO BE HARMED BY WHAT'S COMING IN THE FORM OF EXTREME COLD. SO FIRST ON THAT LIST ARE OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS, THE, UH, COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS AND MANY OTHERS THAT ARE REACHING OUT, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND GO TO WARMING CENTERS. SOME OF THE CONCERNS HOMELESS FOLK TYPICALLY, TYPICALLY EXPRESS, OR CAN I BRING MY BELONGINGS? YES, THEY CAN. THEY CAN BRING THEIR PETS, THEY CAN BRING THEIR BELONGINGS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO THE WARMING CENTERS AND KNOW THEY WILL BE WELCOME. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA TO GO TO THESE WARMING CENTERS, PLEASE DO SO. IT'S BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR. SECOND, VERY VULNERABLE SENIORS. SENIORS ARE VULNERABLE TO, UH, EXTREME WEATHER, EXTREME COLD, AND OFTENTIMES THEY MAY LIVE IN FACILITIES IN WHICH THE HEAT IS NOT ENTIRELY RELIABLE. SO YESTERDAY AND TODAY, THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING WAS CHECKING ON EVERY, EVERY SENIOR THAT RECEIVES SERVICES THROUGH THE CONGREGATE SITES, OR WHO RECEIVES HOME DELIVERED MEALS. UH, SHELF STABLE MEALS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO SENIORS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE INABILITY TO MAKE THOSE DELIVERIES ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, UM, AND SO FORTH. FINALLY, WITH RESPECT TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, THE UNITED WAY, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, JUST REMEMBER, FOR A TRUE EMERGENCY, 9 1 1 FOR, FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, FOR RIDES, TO WARMING CENTERS, FOR OTHER KINDS OF HELP, CALL THREE ONE ONE, CALL THE UNITED WAYS TWO ONE ONE LINE IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN YOUR HOME OR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY. SO PLEASE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOU CAN GET A RIDE TO ANY OF THE 10 WARMING CENTERS. YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANNA GO, AND WE WANT YOU TO BE COMFORTABLE, AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE WELCOME THERE. UH, THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE HELPING IN THIS EFFORT. AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY, WE KNOW WE CAN COUNT ON YOU TO REACH OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS RIGHT AROUND YOU. NO ONE CAN GET TO YOUR NEIGHBOR FASTER THAN YOU CAN, AND NO ONE CAN HELP YOU QUICKER THAN YOUR NEIGHBOR. REACH OUT AND CHECK ON ONE ANOTHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANGELA. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE EMERGENCY CENTER AND IT'S DIRECTOR, BRIAN MASON AND HIS TEAM WILL BE IN THIS CENTER AROUND THE CLOCK UNTIL THE TEMPERATURES IMPROVE LATER THIS WEEK FOR ANY UNEXPECTED EMERGENCIES THAT WE HAVEN'T COVERED. BUT LET ME, UH, BEFORE I ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, TRANSLATE TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT IS COLLABORATING WITH US. I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TODAY THAT ARE SHARING THEIR RESOURCES INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER, OUR FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES IN OUR AREA AND AT THE STATE. SO NOW, I GUESS, AND BEFORE I YIELD TO, UH, ANNA, LET ME JUST APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC, WE NEED YOUR COLLABORATION. THAT'S REALLY THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO LEAVE HERE TONIGHT [00:20:01] WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER, LOWER ACTIVITY, LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, BUT LET'S COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER. IF YOU CAN SEE A NEIGHBOR OR LOVED ONE THAT NEEDS SOMETHING, REACH OUT TO THEM AND CONTACT YOUR CITY RESOURCES. WITH THAT SAID, ANNA, WOULD YOU COME, UH, TRANSLATE FOR US? THANK YOU, ANNA. AND BEFORE WE OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO, UH, EMPHASIZE THAT WE REALLY HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF AS WE STAND HERE. AS HOUSTONIANS. WE'RE CONFIDENT, WE'RE PREPARED. WE HAVE VERY PROFESSIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS AND DIRECTORS, AND, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE. WE HAVE CHALLENGES LIKE MOST MAJOR CITIES DO, BUT IN HOUSTON, WE ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES AND WE STAY PREPARED ON A REAL POSITIVE AND, AND PLEASANT NOTE. UM, I'M EXCITED TO REPORT TO YOU THAT ROCKY, OUR K NINE OFFICER THAT WAS SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY IS RECOVERING, AND, UM, I WAS TOLD HE IS ANXIOUS AND, AND READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. SO THAT'S ON A REAL GOOD NOTE. AND, UH, HE'S NOT ACCEPTING VISITORS AT THIS TIME, BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE MAKING AN EXCEPTION FOR THE MAYOR TO GO OUT THERE AND GIVE HIM A CITY OF HOUSTON PROCLAMATION. SO IT'S A GREAT DAY, UH, TO BE A HOUSTONIAN, AND EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A HOUSTONIAN. WE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS. I'VE COVERED A LOT, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S SOME UNANSWERED, UH, QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION WITH THE HURRICANES. UM, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU WORRY GETTING OUT, ANTICIPATE THE HEAT OF THIS, UM, AND THINK OF IT THAT THERE'S [00:25:01] GONNA BE ISSUES WITH GETTING OUT . WELL, THE, THE HURRICANE SITUATION, 'CAUSE WE LOST POWER AND WE HAD COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ANY LIGHTING. SO COLLABORATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, AND CERTAINLY THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, WE HAD A HUNDRED OUT OF TOWN OFFICERS SPEND SEVERAL DAYS HERE TO COVER THE COMMUNITIES. OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CERTAINLY IN MY ADMINISTRATION, IS PUBLIC SAFETY. SO I'LL BE TALKING TO THE CHIEF, NOT ONLY FIRE, BUT CERTAINLY HPD CHIEF DIAZ IS, IS A HANDS-ON CHIEF, AND, UH, WE'LL BE IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO BE IN. WE'VE GOT ALL WEATHER TERRAIN VEHICLES, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. BUT THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE HURRICANE BECAUSE WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THE LOSS OF POWER. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, , AFTER MAKING THAT STATEMENT, WE ARE MONITORING WITH ERCOT AND CENTER POINT TO SEE THAT, UH, WE'RE ON TOP THAT EVERYBODY'S, UH, ALL HANDS ON DECK IN THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE WITHOUT POWER, WE ALL KNOW HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE. OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING, BUT WE'LL BE HAVING AN ANNOUNCEMENT VERY SHORTLY, HOW WE'RE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF PUTTING A GENERATOR IN EVERY PUBLIC FACILITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT'S A MAJOR UNDERTAKING. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING, UH, BACKUP SYSTEMS. THE, THE, THE HURRICANE, IF YOU RECALL, I DISCOVERED BECAUSE NO ONE HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS LIKE 10 FIRE STATIONS WITHOUT GENERATORS. THAT'S ALL BEEN ADDRESSED, AND I WAS SHOCKED THEN AND, UH, DISAPPOINTED, BUT YOU CAN'T FIX SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. I'D NEVER BEEN TOLD THAT WE HAD FIRE STATIONS. AND NOW NOT ONLY THAT, UM, OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, I CAN GO ON AND ON TALKING ABOUT ENERGY AND HOW WE'RE GONNA BECOME VERY RESILIENT IN THIS CITY. SO YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE THEM HAVING ISSUE RESPONDING TO CALLS? NO. I'D BE GLAD TO LET THE, THE CHIEF I THINK WOULD BE THE BEST ONE TO ADDRESS, UH, THE OVERTIME AND EXTRA STAFFING. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO IF THE ROADS ARE ICY AND IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT, IT'S GONNA BE SOME TIME BEFORE OUR VEHICLE'S GONNA GET TO YOU. SO THAT'S WHY THE EMPHASIS IS STAY HOME IF YOU CAN, BUT WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH STAFFING. OUR OPERATIONS WILL BE LIKE THEY ALWAYS ARE ANSWERING CALLS, BEING CALLED RESPONSIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S SAFE. BUT LIKE TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, PLEASE, IF YOU CAN STAY HOME, STAY HOME, BECAUSE OUR STAFF WILL BE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT PERIL TO TRY TO GET TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE OKAY. AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES AN AMAZING JOB, UH, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH US. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THE MESSAGE FOR US FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT IF YOU CAN STAY HOME, PLEASE DO SO, UH, BECAUSE YOU, UH, YOU'RE SAFER AT HOME AND YOU PUT US IN SOME, SOMETIMES IN JEOPARDY TRYING TO GET ONTO THE ROADWAYS. IF YOU'RE ON AN OVERPASS, UH, THAT WE CAN'T GET TO YOU, YOU MAY HAVE TO SIT IN YOUR CAR QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL WE GET TO YOU. IT WAS ANY CLARIFICATION ON THAT, RANDY? YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE FROM VARIOUS DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY SOME OF THE PHILOSOPHY IS THAT AS YOU LET THE WATER CONTINUE TO FLOW, IT CAN HELP PIPES NOT FREEZE. UH, THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION THOUGH IS, IS ON OUR BEST OF DAYS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND, AND THE MAYOR'S DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF DOCUMENTING THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR. UH, OUR, OUR SYSTEM IS FRAGILE. UM, WE HAVE PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE CITY AS OF TODAY EVEN, AND DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF OUR CREWS TO, TO TRY AND WRAP UP THE WORST OF LEAKS ACROSS THE CITY, THERE'S STILL MORE THAN A THOUSAND ACTIVE WATER MAIN LEAKS ACROSS THE CITY. SO THE, THE STRAIN ON THE PRESSURE THAT THE SYSTEM CAN DELIVER IS SIGNIFICANT. AND IF EVERYONE STARTS DRIPPING THEIR FAUCET AT THE SAME TIME, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT JUST A DRIP, SOMETIMES THAT DRIP IS A STREAM WHICH IS MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, THAT THERE'S JUST ONLY A FINITE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AVAILABLE. SO WE ASK PEOPLE NOT TO DRIP. TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS THAT YOU CAN WRAP YOUR PIPES ON THE EXTERIOR. [00:30:01] MAKE SURE THAT YOU OPEN UNDERNEATH YOUR CABINET SO THAT THERE CAN BE SOME WARM AIR THAT GETS IN THERE. GENERALLY, WE DON'T EXPECT THERE TO BE MAJOR CATASTROPHES IF YOU TAKE AS MUCH PRECAUTION AS YOU CAN, BUT PART OF THAT'S ALSO UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR OWN HOME. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR SHUTOFF VALVE IS. IF FOR SOME REASON YOUR HOME DOESN'T HAVE ONE, UM, AND YOU CAN'T GET TO IT AND YOU NEED TO SHUT IT OFF AT THE WATER MAIN CALL US, WE'LL HELP YOU TO TAKE, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT PART OF IT. BUT DRIPPING, IT JUST PUTS AN EXTRA STRAIN ON THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY. UM, AND IT'S A, IT'S A STRAIN THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A GREATER RISK AS A CITY TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A BOILED WATER NOTICE. IF FOR SOME REASON WE CAN'T MAINTAIN ADEQUATE PRESSURE TO TREAT IT. AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING HOME, UM, PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL. PREPARING NOW TO STAY HOME DURING WINTER STORM, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW? SURE. I WOULD SAY FOOD FOR CERTAIN. UM, HAVE A PLAN FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN YOUR FAMILY. CERTAINLY YOUR PETS, YOUR PLANTS, YOUR PROPERTY. SO JUST BE SMART. UH, HAVE A PLAN. UH, MOST OF THE, UH, FORECAST IS THAT THE REAL STORM GETS IN AROUND MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT. SO WE'VE GOT TOMORROW, AS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE DOING, GETTING FULLY PREPARED. SO THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, UH, EARLY ON IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE. WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP US HELP THEMSELVES BY HELPING THEMSELVES AND BEING SMART AND COMMON SENSE. SO, UH, FOOD, WATER, GET YOUR PIPES PREPARED. AS RANDY JUST SAID, OPEN YOUR CABINETS, MAYBE EVEN YOUR ATTIC DOOR IF YOU HAVE PIPES IN THE CEILING, JUST THE THINGS THAT YOU'D NORMALLY DO TO GET READY FOR A HARD FREEZE. UH, WE'VE GOT TIME TO DO THAT. AND DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE CLEAR SKIES. TODAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, BUT TELL ME, I ASSURE YOU, IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE. UH, TOMORROW WILL BE A CLEAR DAY, SO DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE WEATHER. THE, UH, FORECASTERS, THE EXPERTS HAVE CONVINCED ME THERE'S A REASON WE'RE GATHERED HERE TONIGHT, THAT IT'S THE REAL DEAL. TOMORROW WE WILL EXPERIENCE A SEVERE WINTER STORM THAT WILL BE VERY, UH, INVOLVED WITH SNOW, ICE, SLEET, STAY OFF THE ROADS, LOWER YOUR ACTIVITIES, STAY AT HOME. EMPLOYERS SHOULD USE THEIR GOOD JUDGMENT. IF YOU HAVE NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS, LET 'EM STAY AT HOME. THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSE. WE NEED PARENTS TO STAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SO IT'S REALLY JUST ALL OF US IN THIS TOGETHER, THE COLLABORATION THAT I MENTIONED, NOT ONLY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC, WORKING WITH THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS. LEAD THE STREETS AND THOROUGHFARES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LISTED AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS. WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE, WE FACE OUR CHALLENGES AND COME THROUGH STRONGER. SO LOOK OUT FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, OUR SENIORS, OUR PETS. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A BUNCH OF US THAT NEED TO GO TO WORK. THANK Y'ALL. AND WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, KEEP YOU POSTED, UH, WITH PRESS UPDATES AS WE GET NEW INFORMATION. THANK Y'ALL. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.