Texas Department of Transportation brine applicators fogged in and out the TxDOT office in Decatur Wednesday to mitigate local road impacts from the upcoming winter storm. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) mobilized its fleet of brine applicators this week, and on Thursday, crews continued efforts to treat Wise County highways and major thoroughfares ahead of Winter Storm Fern’s arrival.
The winter storm could bring a potentially bitter mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow Friday and over the weekend that will shift as temperatures drop. The primary concern surrounds the amount of freezing rain that falls from that mixture, due to its tendency to glaze on roads upon impact. TxDOT crews are expected to continue treatment and clearing efforts through Monday to help mitigate travel impacts.
“We’ve entered 24/7 operations,” TxDOT Public Information Officer Val Lopez said. “Crews in the Fort Worth District, which includes Wise County, began pre-treating roads yesterday.”
Lopez said TxDOT is operating on a high degree of confidence that road conditions will see winter weather impacts over the weekend. To help limit potential hazards, TxDOT trucks have started applying brine — a saltwater mixture used to lower the freezing point on road surfaces. The mixture creates a barrier, preventing ice from bonding to the pavement and making ice accumulations easier to remove.
Crews will prioritize U.S. and state highways, including U.S. 81/287 U.S. 380 and Texas 114, before moving on to key Farm-to-Market roads, with special attention to bridges and overpasses.
Brine was visible on Wise County’s major thoroughfares as of 10 a.m. Thursday. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
The preparations ramped up after Wise County and dozens of other counties were placed under a winter storm watch by the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth on Tuesday.
NWS advised that the system could produce heavy mixed precipitation that could lead to up to an half inch of ice in Wise County. Sleet and snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible, with heavier snowfall expected near the Red River. Among the most severe impacts are the potential for ice accumulations that could make some roads impassable and cause damage to power lines and tree limbs, which could result in widespread and/or prolonged power outages.
In addition to the winter storm watch from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, the county is also under an extreme cold watch, with the potential for wind chills as low as 10 below zero. Those conditions could result in hypothermia or frostbite from prolonged exposure if precautions aren’t taken, according to NWS.
While Lopez recommended that anyone who doesn’t have to drive over the weekend should stay at home, he said road condition reports will be available at DriveTexas.org.
Shoppers stocked up on the essentials Thursday at Brookshire’s Grocery in Bridgeport. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
As customers fogged inside, employees worked to restock shelves during the pre-storm rush Thursday in Bridgeport. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
On Thursday, many Wise County residents were stocking up on food and other supplies at grocery stores and supermarkets. The toilet paper and water bottle shelves weren’t empty at Brookshire’s in Bridgeport as of 11 a.m. Thursday, but the traffic at local grocery stores and the Walmart in Decatur, remained heavy throughout the day.
As residents stocked up on water, food, propane and firewood and finalized efforts to protect their 4 P’s (People, Pipes, Plants and Pets), Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of potential winter weather impacts.
“Based on current forecasts, the State of Texas is acting to ensure Texans have the resources they need before severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Governor Abbott in his announcement. “As temperatures could drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that Texans remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials. I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to keep Texans safe.”
At the direction of the Governor, TDEM has activated the following state emergency response resources to support weather response operations:
- Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
- Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
- Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel to support stranded motorists
- Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): All-Hazard Strike Teams consisting of firefighters, engines, and equipment such as motor graders to assist with snow/ice clearance; saw crews
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
- Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Public Works Response Team): Personnel to assist with public works needs
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents
- Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter and Severe Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Personnel to provide information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network
- Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
- Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
Texans can access winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, and find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm.
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a Weather Watch from January 24-27 due to forecasted below-freezing temperatures with the possibility of frozen precipitation across the region, higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves.
“ERCOT is monitoring weather conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations,” the advisory said. “In anticipation of the extreme cold weather, ERCOT is coordinating preparation efforts with the Texas Energy Reliability Council, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state agencies, as well as with Market Participants.”
Grid conditions can be monitored on ercot.com.
Loading Comments