PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON CO. AS ARCTIC FRONT DRAWS CLOSE

  

With extreme cold and freezing rain forecasted for the region this weekend, Washington County residents are encouraged to make preparations and take precautions.

The National Weather Service predicts an arctic cold front will push through Southeast Texas late tomorrow (Friday) or early Saturday. 

Brenham Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Donovan says city street and utility departments are making sure they are ready to go for what will be a very cold start to next week. 

Donovan says processes are being put into place in the event any departments need to upstaff or man call centers.  He advises residents to take measures to protect their pets, plants and pipes, check on their neighbors, and avoid traveling if possible.

While the amount of moisture that may come as part of this storm is still up in the air, the potential exists for ice accumulation on roads, as well as tree limbs and power lines.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Public Affairs Manager Will Holford says preparations have been well underway in order to ensure the cooperative is ready to respond to any winter weather-related outages.

Holford says current indications from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are that there should not be any calls for energy conservation. 

City of Brenham electric customers can report outages by calling or texting OUT to 979-337-7400.  Power outages can be reported to Bluebonnet by visiting www.bluebonnet.coop, calling 1-800-949-4414 or texting OUT to 44141. 

For the roadways, TxDOT will be out and about today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday), pre-treating roads and bridges.  Bob Colwell, Public Information Officer for TxDOT’s Bryan District, says crews will be working around the clock until the storm has passed by.

Drivers can check road conditions online at www.drivetexas.org or by calling 1-800-452-9292.   

In the event a warming center is needed, Washington County Chief of Staff Carrie Marmol said the Washington County Expo Event Center will be utilized as a warming center in case of major outages.