Subfreezing temperatures are expected this week, starting Thursday, December 22, through at least Christmas Eve. As we prepare for the cold temperatures we also want you to be weather aware.
PREPARE YOUR HOME
TRASH AND RECYCLING
Republic Services is currently operating its normal schedule. The City will communicate service updates and scheduling changes through social media on this page and at www.MySouthlakeNews.com. Call the Republic Services Customer Service Center at (817) 317-2424. You can also call the City at (817) 748-8400.
UTILITIES
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: CHRISTMASTIME IN SOUTHLAKE
We want to remind you of our e-services webpage that you can access from the comfort of your home. You can also sign up for information alerts on Alert Southlake.
For the latest information and live updates, please visit our winter weather page on www.ProtectSouthlake.com, the City of Southlake’s Facebook page, and the Southlake DPS Facebook and Twitter pages. Also, pay attention to the National Weather Service and your favorite news stations for the latest weather information.
Did you walk around Town Square last weekend and think the grass looked abnormally short?
Don’t worry it’s not an optical illusion, and no, the landscaper did not make a mistake. What you’re witnessing is the Parks Division preparing for our winter rye application. The Parks Division uses rye in its Turf Management Program to preserve high-traffic grassy areas during the winter months when the warm weather grass is dormant. Think of popular public parks like the ones in Town Square.
When grass is dormant, it cannot repair itself if damaged. It’s, therefore, more suspectable to creating bare and dead spots during City events when coming out of its dormancy in the Spring. All athletics fields utilized during the cold months use this process to keep them looking sharp and minimize wear and tear.
On top of preserving the warm weather grass from severe damage, rye acts as an erosion-preventative technique. The rye grass provides an extra root system that grows and holds the soil together during the heavy downpours over the winter months.
The annual winter rye application is just one example of the Parks maintenance techniques the Parks Division utilizes to keep Southlake beautiful and a wonderful place to visit. Their goal is to ensure every park in the City is clean, green, and safe! We feel fortunate to live and work in a City that takes such good care of its green spaces.
Due to the winter weather storm, all Wednesday night City events, programs, and meetings are canceled. The Marq Southlake, Champions Club and Legends Hall will close at 5:00 p.m.
All City offices, including The Marq Champions Club and Legends Hall, the Senior Activity Center, the Southlake Library, the Bob Jones Nature Center, and the Tennis Center, will be closed Thursday, February 3, 2022. Emergency services are not affected by the closures.
Although offices will be closed, we encourage residents to use the City’s e-services to access additional information and quick links. If you have questions, call us at (817) 748-8400 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The City’s Building Inspection Division will not schedule or conduct any on-site inspections, but virtual water heater replacement and HVAC inspections will still be available. For questions about virtual inspections, please visit the Building Inspections webpage, Customer Self-Service webpage, or call 817-748-8236 or 817-748-8237.
Further updates and closures will be announced through www.ProtectSouthlake.com MySouthlakeNews.com and the City’s social media pages.
Canceled Meetings/Programs/Events
Road Treatment /Mobility
The City will treat local roads as needed, prioritizing emergency vehicle access. If you are out and see our vehicles, please give them plenty of room to do their work. And if you must travel over the next 48 hours, please check road conditions on the Southlake Mobility Facebook page, local media outlets, and the Texas Department of Transportation’s Drive Texas website.
Utilities
City staff is maintaining continuous contact with Oncor and Tri-County throughout this storm event. You can track and report outages online. For Oncor, visit https://stormcenter.oncor.com/. For Tri-County - https://oms.tcectexas.com/.
Trash and Recycling
Republic Services has informed the City of Southlake that trash and recycling services for Thursday 2/3 are canceled. We will communicate further service updates and scheduling changes through social media, www.ProtectSouthlake.com, and MySouthlakeNews.com.
Stay Up to Date
Stay up to date on city closures and weather via the City of Southlake’s Facebook page or the Winter Weather webpage on ProtectSouthlake.com. You can also text PROTECTSLK to 888777 or sign up for Alert Southlake to receive emergency alerts and notifications.
In the early hours this morning, water started flowing back into the Southlake water system. This is great news but we want to remind everyone that a boil water notice remains in effect. It could be up to a week before the boil notice can be rescinded because the City will need to take the necessary steps to ensure water quality. This will involve performing tasks such as water sampling, flushing, etc. to meet regulatory requirements. We are hoping to quickly complete these processes, but we must follow these procedures for public safety.
We have prepared information that can be found on the city website to include what to expect as water service is returned, how to deal with a water leak or broken pipe, and even information about how to select a contractor/plumber should you need it.
If you do not yet have water service, please note that it may take time to make its way through the water system. Unless we experience a problem, water is on its way.
There is more information to come as we work to get back to normal. If you are able, please visit ProtectSouthlake.com for more information. We will continue to update you as we go through the day. The weather and power outages may pose some challenges, but it’s a step in the right direction. Thanks for your patience.
During freezing conditions, you may experience a waterline leak or break. You may realize this immediately or may not become aware of this issue until conditions are above freezing and you hear the sound of running water when no faucets are turned on. You can check your water meter to determine if water is running when the faucets are turned off.
If you experience a waterline break, the first thing to do is locate your house water shut-off valve and completely switch off your water supply. You can usually find your house water shut-off valve located somewhere along the perimeter of your home, typically located inside a valve box. The water shut-off valve may also be in the garage or somewhere in the house in an access panel.
If you are unable to find the shut-off valve to your house, another option is to locate the water meter main shut-off valve located at the boundary line of your property near the street or sidewalk. This shut-off valve is typically located in a valve box similar to the photo below.
Once you have contained the emergency, contact a licensed plumber to repair the damaged water line. A plumber can turn off the water at your home if you are unable to do so. Please note that the plumber will be required to obtain a permit from the City for the repair. However, in the event of an emergency, the permit may be obtained the following business day after the repair has been made.
Of course, we hope that you do not experience a broken water line. A couple of preventative measures to consider are the opening of your cabinet doors to give your pipes access to warmer air from the rest of the house and keep your faucets dripping, especially those faucets located on an exterior wall. To keep outdoor plumbing fixtures from freezing, disconnect and store any garden hoses and insulate the outdoor faucets.
If you have questions, please contact Southlake Water Utilities at 817-748-8051 or email swucustomerservice@cityofsouthlake.com.
With another round of winter weather expected to arrive tonight and frigid temperatures to continue for the rest of the week, here is the last information on City of Southlake program and meeting cancelations:
City
Parks and Recreation Programs
Electric Outage
Tri-County Electric has requested members who are experiencing an outage of more than three hours to report it online at oms.tcectexas.com, through the member app TCEC Connect or by calling 817-444-3201. Tri-County prefers notification through the website or app because it is faster.
Oncor has stated that they have continued to be directed to drop the power load to the grid through maintained, controlled outages. They were able to rotate some outages overnight. However, poor grid conditions have prevented them from rotating or rolling, leading to extended periods without power. Per Oncor, ERCOT is unable to predict when the grid will stabilize. They ask that you do not report outages at this time.
Please visit our winter weather page on www.ProtectSouthlake.com, the City of Southlake Facebook Page, and the Southlake DPS Facebook page for the latest information.
With frigid temperatures expected to continue through the end of the week, here is the latest information on rolling blackouts/power outages and City of Southlake program and meeting cancelations.
Power Outages
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) advised all Texas power providers early Monday morning that they had entered emergency conditions and initiated rotating outages.
Oncor, one of Southlake’s primary power providers, said, “The length of controlled outages have been significantly extended due to the current emergency grid conditions and severe cold weather. These outages are taking place across the service territory, and ERCOT has said they could be required through Tuesday.” They also added that all Oncor customers should prepare to be without power for an extended period of time. Click here >>> http://bit.ly/Oncor3rW5i0P for Oncor’s outage map. They also have a downloadable mobile app.
Tri-County Electric provided this Facebook video update to its customers. Roughly 58,000 members are out of power, with 2,400 being snow/weather-related and 55,800 members involved in the rotating outages. Their alert page is here, and they are also encouraging their members to go to their Facebook page for updates.
The City has opened up an Emergency Temporary Warming Shelter for residents at the DPS North Facility, 100 East Dove Road. Residents who utilize the facility are encouraged to bring water and snacks. Limited electrical outlets are available for use. For more information, visit the City’s webpage.
Cancelations
City
Parks and Recreation Programs
Please visit our winter weather page on www.CityofSouthlake.com, the City of Southlake Facebook Page, and the Southlake DPS Facebook page for the latest information.
Due to the anticipated inclement weather this weekend and next week, the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 16 will be held virtually. Other board and commissions’ meetings may be held virtually. Keep an eye on our Virtual Meetings webpage for the latest information.
Any further changes and closures due to weather will be announced through MySouthlakeNews.com and our social media pages.
Winter weather could impact City services. We will provide updates through social media regarding changes.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the City’s e-services.
Building Inspections
The City’s Building Inspection Division will not be scheduling or conducting any on-site inspections on Monday, February 15. Virtual inspections for water heater replacement and HVAC will still be available. The department will be continuously monitoring weather conditions to determine when on-site building inspections can resume. For updates on building inspection statuses, please visit the Building Inspections webpage or Customer Self-Service webpage. For questions, please call 817-748-8236 or 817-748-8237.
Road Maintenance
In the event of snow accumulation, the City will work to clear main thoroughfares for public safety. Construction projects will be affected by weather due to precipitation and temperature.
Please check road conditions through local media outlets or through Texas Department of Transportation Drive Texas website, before you drive and remember drive safely on roads with snow or potential ice.
Trash and Recycling
Republic Services has informed the City of Southlake that potential inclement weather could affect trash and recycling collection. We will communicate any updates we receive from Republic on changes to the schedule through social media and MySouthlakeNews.com.
Infrastructure
To protect your home, please use the following recommendations:
Winter Weather Preparedness
To stay updated on weather alerts, please make sure you are signed up for Alert Southlake. If you’re already signed up, please verify your Alert Southlake contact information.
As you prepare for anticipated weather events, please remember to prepare your home and vehicle, as well as potential power outages. Make sure to have water and warm clothing or blankets with you if you leave your home.
Use the infographic below for guidance.
It is important for all of us to stay safe during potential winter weather. Please be safe and stay up to date on weather conditions. Stay safe Southlake!
