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Connecting You With City Information, News, and Resources
Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn

Council appointments:
*Chairman, Government Performance and Financial Management Committee
*Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on General Investigations and Ethics
*Vice Chairman, Public Safety Committee
*Housing and Homeless Solutions Committee
*Transportation Committee
*Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19
*Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs
*Regional Transportation Council Member
*North Central Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee

Other city-related appointments/elected positions:
*National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Families Council
*Board of Directors, National League of Cities Women in Municipal Government
***Special Edition***

Ready for the COLD??!

It's just about a year ago we all suffered through the big freeze and now we are at the beginning of our first storm this year. Below are some tips and resources. If you need help, we'll be checking email to help direct you to the right resource.

If you need supplies, please consider going out before the rain and freezing temperatures. Dangerous driving conditions are expected.

If you anyone needs shelter, please direct them to Fair Park Automotive Building for shelter, food, or other resources. DART buses are free from anywhere in the city. If bus service is not available, please call 311 to be connected with the Office of Homeless Solutions who will arrange transportation.

Best mom advice for safety: Just stay home.

Take care, Cara

Council Liaison: Madison.Johnson@dallascityhall.com
Council Assistant:
Luis.Delgado@dallascityhall.com
City of Dallas Winter Weather Updates
The Office of Emergency Management and City departments are diligently planning for our residents’ safety during the forecasted winter weather beginning tonight and through Thursday.
 
  • ONCOR has crews in place and have done all necessary prep work to respond to outages when and if they occur in order to get residents power back up quickly and safely.
  • The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated beginning at Noon today, Feb. 2 and will remain open until at least through Friday, Feb. 4 and probably until Saturday, Feb. 5.
  • DPD and DFR have staff and apparatus ready for the storm. They have worked proactively with Fleet Management to prepare for cold and traction assistance.
  • COM will be on 24-hour virtual operations with a representative in the EOC from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • OHS has opened the Fair Park Automobile Building as an overnight homeless shelter. Intake has begun and is running smoothly. COVID testing is being done prior to placement in the shelter. Persons testing positive are being transferred to a COVID positive shelter. 
  • Public Works has 40 trucks loaded with sand, including the DWU team of trucks to be ready to sand. They will be scouting their routes between 6 p.m. and Midnight. Ice Task Force goes on duty at Midnight to sand their routes.
  • Transportation have trucks with lifts and cranes standing by to help with knock downs of signals and city-owned streetlights.
  • Fleet management is working with departments to ensure vehicles have chains or other traction assistance. They also have plenty of diesel additive to ensure diesel vehicle and generator fuel does not crystallize or gel. All five service stations will be open overnight for all vehicle needs and all fuel items are working.
  • Building services is standing by to assist as needed.
  • ITS has confirmed the public safety radio system has ample power and generators are ready. 
  • DWU has staff on notice with critical staff on site. Electricians are staged at critical pumping stations. The distribution group is on extreme workload protocols, metering crews will be staffed up for burst pipe calls. DWU is also offering staff to 311 to help handle calls for service.
  • Warming Centers have been identified at all libraries and recreation centers during their business hours. Both Libraries and Rec Centers will have late opening on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be open their regular 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. as staff is able to get to centers. DBI has an active map on the DallasCityHall.com winter weather page.
  • Coach bus contracts are in place for possible mobile warming stations or transportation as needed.
  • Parks has shut off all outdoor water and restrooms and prepped walkways with sand for safety.
  • Courts will have a delayed opening on Thursday at 11 a.m. but have canceled trials, so no judges or jurors.
  • Sanitation will have a delayed start of 9 a.m. of residential bins.
  • Code will be working with 311 on complaints about apartments without water, hot water, or heat. Code will contact the owners about the complaints and get the restoration plan. Code will have limited staff on Thursday and Friday but will have a response team to catch up on complaints on Saturday, Feb. 5 and Sunday, Feb. 6.
  • Purchasing has dedicated staff for emergency purchases. They are finalizing water contracts in case purchase and distribution is needed.

Need help, got a question, or want to give input?

Email: Cara.Mendelsohn@DallasCityHall.com
Office phone: (214) 670-4067
Text phone: (214) 490-1036