Williamson County establishes Emergency Operations Center ahead of winter storm
Offices closed, Tuesday, January 21
The Williamson County Office of Emergency Management will open an Emergency Operations Center tonight in response to the Cold Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Likewise, Wilco offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, due to anticipated severe winter weather.
According to a Twitter update from the NWS Austin/San Antonio station at 4 a.m., a Winter Storm Warning is in effect tonight into Tuesday for the Interstate 35 corridor/Coastal Plains.
The update reads, “Moderate impacts are expected from a snow/sleet/freezing rain mix. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Rio Grande/Hill Country, where minor travel impacts are possible.”
Wilco’s Emergency Operations Center is staffed with essential personnel from Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services, Road and Bridge Division, Emergency Communications, the Fire Marshal’s Office, Public Affairs, Facilities, Technology Services, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), with others working remotely to support the operation.
Williamson County’s Road and Bridge Division will check pavement temperatures and possible icing throughout Monday night. According to the county, main concerns are elevated surfaces including bridges and overpasses. Crews are on call to treat county roads and bridges with sand and de-icing material. They also work closely with area partners for the treatment of non-county roadways.
EMS is fully staffed and will have an additional truck working Monday night in the northern part of the county. Call volume is currently normal.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies will monitor conditions and roadways from Monday evening through Tuesday when precipitation chances are the highest. Additional deputies are on standby and ready to report for duty if needed.
The county reminds residents to remember the four Ps for winter weather safety:
- People: Before going outside, dress in layers to protect yourself from the cold. While heating your home, do not use a generator, grill, camp stove, or any gasoline, propane, or charcoal-burning device because they generate deadly carbon monoxide gas.
- Pets: Bring your pets inside to keep them warm and safe .
- Pipes: Insulate or cover exposed pipes to protect them from freezing and turn off outside faucets. Drip one faucet only if needed.
- Plants: cover your plants or bring them inside
Residents are urged to stay weather aware. Wilco provided some links to resources below.
- Register for local alerts through WarnCentralTexas.org - Free Emergency Alerts for Central Texas.
- Check driving conditions across the state at DriveTexas.
- A list of warming centers is available on the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at www.tdem.texas.gov/warm.
- In Texas, call 2-1-1 for resources including food, health, and housing or visit https://www.211texas.org.
- For more tips on how to prepare for cold weather, residents can visit Cold Weather Preparedness | Williamson County, TX.
- For updated information from Williamson County, residents can visit the website at www.wilcotx.gov and follow Williamson County on Facebook and X @PreparingWilco.