City of Copperas Cove – Winter Storm Gerri Update #1

Copperas Cove, Texas – The City of Copperas Cove’s Emergency Management team has been tracking Winter Storm Gerri and updates provided by the National Weather Service Fort Worth. City staff has been closely monitoring the severe weather system moving into the Central Texas region, which is expected to bring freezing temperatures and wintery conditions from Saturday thru Tuesday, Jan. 13-16. We will provide information relating to any impacts to City services if they arise, however here is our current position:

  • All City facilities are expected to be open for regular business hours, with the exception of Monday, January 15th all facilities will be closed in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
  • Fairview Community Church, located at 1202 Veterans Avenue, will be open from Jan. 12-21 to serve as a temporary warming center for any citizens requiring such need. The warming center will offer temporary relief from the cold but will not offer full sheltering services.
  • Public Works crews in various departments have been preparing for the impending severe weather:
    • Solid Waste Collections are scheduled to be delayed by one day next week due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. For specific questions or concerns, contact Solid Waste at (254) 547-5245.
  • Street Dept. staff are on standby with sand/gravel mix to treat major roadway concerns, should it become necessary. There is generally a concentration on vulnerable hills and intersections, and at times steep roadways may be closed during weather events. If this occurs, motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution if they must go around barricades and to not travel unless absolutely necessary. If a roadway is impassable by citizens, then it is also likely impassable by City vehicles to spread aggregate.
    • TxDOT Waco District has already been in the area proactively applying Brine to some areas of state highways. These early applications can help prevent snow and ice from initially sticking to pavement.
  • Water, Wastewater Collections, and Wastewater Dept. staff are on standby and have taken necessary precautions to protect the various tanks, lift-stations, and plants. Staff will provide 24-hour coverage for any emergency repairs that may become necessary. For emergency disconnections or assistance, please contact the Police Dept. at (254) 547-8222 x1 so they may contact on-call staff.
    • To help prevent frozen water lines, residents are encouraged to disconnect hoses and insulate outdoor pipes or faucets, leave interior cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing, and allow inside faucets to drip. Review and find more info here:

https://texashelp.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/winter-storms-frozen-pipes.pdf

  • City of Copperas Cove updates will be posted to the City’s website at:

https://www.copperascovetx.gov/weatherinfo/

  • Emergency notifications will be distributed via the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. To register for the City’s CodeRED, go to:

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/bff2144c1ee5

  • National Weather Service Fort Worth information and updates may be found here:

https://www.weather.gov/fwd/

  • Oncor information and updates may be found here:

https://www.oncor.com/content/oncorwww/us/en/home.html

  • ERCOT information and updates may be found here:

https://www.ercot.com/

  • Gov information and updates may be found here:

https://www.ready.gov/

Further information will be released as it becomes necessary. Thank you and stay safe.