Sustained freezing temperatures have been predicted to last from early Sunday through Tuesday morning, and Commissioner Lesley Briones and her team are preparing Precinct 4 for a hard freeze.
Across the Precinct, over 200 road and bridge crew members are preparing more than 1,600 miles of roads, 1,300 miles of ditches, and thousands of trees for the winter weather.
“We need to be bracing ourselves because we’re going to have approximately 36 hours of extremely cold, freezing weather if everything we’re reading comes to pass this weekend,” Commissioner Briones said.
What we’re doing
Throughout Precinct 4, road and bridge teams are cleaning streets and bridges in preparation to spread chat rock, a crushed rock, which improves vehicle traction on icy roads. The team is also trimming trees to safeguard against broken branches, which can cause power outages
“Commissioner Briones’ top priority is public safety.” said Walter Hambrick, Precinct 4’s Director of Road and Bridge. “She has heard from residents that storm preparedness is essential. Before the storm, our key priority is preparing our 140 overpasses and bridges. During the freeze, we are prepared to spread chat rock on those bridges to help with emergency travel for EMS and law enforcement.”
Parks and community center teams are also preparing to transform Bayland Community Center into a warming center in partnership with the American Red Cross. Bayland will be open and ready to shelter residents beginning 10 a.m. Saturday through the duration of the storm. Residents are welcome to bring their dogs and cats as long as they are in a crate.
Bayland is equipped with a backup generator, ensuring that no matter what the weather brings, residents have a safe and warm place to stay. All other Precinct 4 parks and community centers will be closed no later than Saturday morning.
“Our top priority is ensuring the safety and continuity of essential services for residents,” said Christopher Fraser, Precinct 4’s Director of Environment, Health, Safety, & Emergency Management. “We’re focused on proactive measures like winterizing facilities, coordinating with utility providers, and preparing backup power solutions to minimize disruptions. Protecting our community and keeping critical operations running during potential outages is at the core of our winter storm response plan.”
What you can do
Commissioner Briones asks residents to stay inside and bring their pets indoors. Ensure you have plenty of supplies, such as food, water, and blankets, in case of a power outage, and consider covering outdoor faucets to help prevent frozen pipes. Never use generators or grills indoors and check to make sure carbon monoxide detectors are working.
Residents can sign up for Harris County emergency alerts at ReadyHarris.org and follow the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on social media (@ReadyHarris) for the latest information. Residents can also find a list of City of Houston warming centers here.
For non-life-threatening emergencies, dial Harris County’s 3-1-1 line, which is available 24/7, or call Precinct 4’s Constituent Support Center at 832-927-4444. Only contact 9-1-1 for emergency assistance (police, fire, or medical emergency services). For water problems, residents may also contact 3-1-1, their city public works, or a plumber, depending on the circumstance.