While the majority of Harris County avoided freezing rain and icy roads, northern portions of the County saw fallen tree branches, ice on bridges, and scattered power outages. When the second weekend of sub-freezing temperatures hit, Precinct 4 was once again primed and ready to assist any residents in need.

Safe streets, bridges, and drainage

In the span of only five days, the Precinct 4 road and bridge team worked the equivalent of 16 workdays focused on preparing the region for Winter Storm Fern. From Hockley to Katy and down to Alief and Westchase, crews were trimming trees, sweeping roads, and clearing ditches.

As the arctic blast made its way through the county, crews monitored roads and bridges to ensure emergency vehicles and the public could drive safely. When team members found patches of ice on six bridges across Cypress, Tomball, and Hockley, they quickly deployed 1 ton of chat rock, which provides better traction on icy roads. Teams also worked to clear downed trees that blocked roads near schools, which fell after branches accumulated heavy ice.

In preparation for the second icy blast, crews stood ready to deploy chat rock once more. Yet, streets and bridges stayed dry, allowing the road and bridge team to collect and save excess chat rock for any future storms.

Shelter and services

Parks and community center staff worked alongside the American Red Cross to transform Bayland Community Center in Sharpstown into a 24-hour warming center and shelter for those who needed it during both cold blasts. The team had plenty of resources to share with anyone seeking shelter, including hot beverages, hot meals, winter clothes, and a warm space to sleep.

“Protecting our community and keeping critical operations running during potential outages is at the core of our winter storm response plan” said Christopher Fraser, Precinct 4’s Director of EHS & Emergency Management.

Precinct 4’s social work team was onsite and connecting residents to services from the moment Bayland opened as a warming center to when it transitioned back to normal operating services.Over five days, the team served a total of 80people who were sheltering from the weather, including some who were medically vulnerable.

Precinct 4’s Constituent Service Center (CSC) was also answering calls and connecting people to resources throughout the storm. Over three days, the CSC team assisted nearly 90 residents, including 79 who were connected to social services.

Additional assistance is always available

Residents who still need assistance can contact the Precinct 4 Constituent Services Department at 832-927-4444. Precinct 4 has dedicated staff available to answer questions and address any concerns.

Precinct 4 offers assistance through interpretation services in the following languages:

• English, Spanish, and Vietnamese

• By request: Arabic, Chinese, Amharic/Oromo, Pashto, Dari and Nepali 

For debris cleanup, Harris County residents can call 832-509-2977. To find additional recovery resources after any weather event, residents can visit cp4.harriscountytx.gov/disaster-resources.