Border is facing intense winter ravages
EL PASO, TX – Due to the low temperatures registered in the border region as part of the 28th cold front and the fifth winter storm, the city of El Paso, Texas took a series of actions to face the weather contingency and avoid damages.
According to the meteorological service, by Thursday, February 3, the temperature in the region will reach a minimum of -7ºC with a wind chill of -10ºC, while since Wednesday night, snowfall began to be recorded, reaching up to two inches in some sectors.
The City Council informed that more than 150 employees are prepared to respond to the meteorological phenomenon and execute the city’s Snow and Ice Plan, with the intention of dealing with the combination of freezing weather and precipitation to avoid ice on roads.
The plan specifically focuses on overpasses and bridges, as well as roads leading to hospitals and fire stations.
“Crews began preparations on Monday in order to be ready for weather events by preparing sand and salt spreaders,” said Streets and Maintenance Department Director Richard Bristol.
Streets and Maintenance crews will coordinate response efforts with the El Paso Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and other local agencies such as the Texas Department of Transportation and the El Paso Water Utility.
Motorists have been advised to slow down and drive carefully in winter weather conditions.
Otherwise, trash and recyclables will be collected as scheduled on Thursday and Friday, February 3 and 4, 2022. If weather conditions contribute to hazardous road conditions, the Department of Environmental Services will be able to collect only gray trash.
While Sun Metro contemplated regular service during Thursday and Friday. In addition, work is reportedly underway to spread salt at terminals to prevent ice from forming on the tracks.
Passengers may experience delays due to weather conditions. Meanwhile, streetcar service was suspended throughout Thursday as recommended by public safety.
Likewise, regular activities at City Hall and all administrative offices were suspended on Thursday, February 3, with the exception of essential services such as public safety and emergency services.
All Municipal Court offices were also closed, so all cases scheduled for Thursday, February 3, will receive notification by mail for a new court date.
School districts in the region, as well as the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Paso Community College (EPCC) confirmed that, due to weather conditions, classes will be moved to virtual mode during Thursday, February 3, and in some of the cases, if it is not possible to work in this manner, it was indicated that sessions could be cancelled.
In the case of Ciudad Juarez, state authorities also announced a series of recommendations and actions to face the contingency, some of them focused on the protection of roads to avoid the use of bridges and overpasses, as well as exhortations for the correct use of heating devices.
Although activities were not suspended in Juarez, institutions such as the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez (UACJ) and the Colegio de Bachilleres (Cobach) announced the cancellation of on-site classes to adopt, in some cases, virtual sessions.
The departments of both cities indicated that they continue to prepare for the arrival of frost, recommending citizens not to go out unnecessarily. It was also indicated that different shelters have been set up to channel people in street situations.
Source: MEXICONOW Staff