Published on February 22, 2022
To request city services or to report issues:
Several City of Fort Worth departments continue to monitor the low temperatures and winter precipitation forecast for this week. Here are the latest updates:
Sign up for emergency messages
The City of Fort Worth, through the Office of Emergency Management, has a free alert system called Fort Worth Texas Alerts. This system replaced the NIXLE system. If residents were previously registered for NIXLE alerts, they will need to register for this system in order to receive emergency notifications. Register for texts, phone calls, email or a combination of all three.
COVID-19 clinics
All City of Fort Worth COVID-19 operations will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. A late start time (10 a.m.) is planned for Friday.
Municipal Court
The Public Safety Building downtown does not anticipate changes to service operations on Wednesday. However, all in-person dockets are canceled for Thursday. Service will be maintained via virtual dockets and walk-in visits on Thursday.
The Court’s satellite operation at Golden Triangle Library will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Development Services
Building permit inspections will not be performed on Wednesday or Thursday. Any inspection already scheduled for those days will be rescheduled for Friday. For emergency inspections related to reconnection of utilities, call 817-392-2222.
Development Services offices at City Hall will be closed for in-person customer service on Wednesday and Thursday. All permitting services are available online, and phone appointments are available for assistance, in addition to the Customer Service phone number: 817-392-2222.
Streets and bridges
- The safety and well-being of all motorists is a high priority for the City of Fort Worth. The city’s Transportation & Public Works Department monitors severe weather and coordinates with the city’s Office of Emergency Management and first responders.
- Road crews will go on call for 12-hour shifts beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. When the ground is cold enough for precipitation to stick, and the forecast calls for ice, snow, sleet or freezing rain, sanding crews are placed on standby.
- The city can deploy as many as 30 trucks at a time, each working 12-hour shifts. Each truck can carry 6-10 cubic yards of material.
- Before sanding activities begin, spotters drive the roadways to survey road conditions
- A sand-salt mixture (10% salt) is applied on top of icy pavement. It cannot be applied before the precipitation falls.
- The city stocks more than 6,000 tons of sand, 1,500 tons of premixed sand-salt and 250 tons of salt. In an average winter, the city uses about 2,500 tons of sand/salt mixture.
- Each truck is dispatched with a list of roads and bridges to sand. Structures such as bridges, overpasses and roadways over culverts are targeted first.
- Neighborhood streets will likely not be sanded.
- The City of Fort Worth works in concert with TxDOT and NTTA to ensure that all high-priority roadways are treated. TxDOT focuses primarily on interstate highways, and city crews focus on other roadways. Sometimes the two will overlap. NTTA focuses on treating the Chisholm Trail Parkway.
Protect your water pipes
Residents need to take steps to prepare for the freezing temperatures. These tips can help:
- Make sure all outside pipes are insulated.
- Check to see that pipes in unheated parts of your home or business (including crawl and attic spaces, under cabinets) are insulated.
- Make sure outside faucet washers are secure.
- Keep the lid on the meter box to better insulate it from freezing.
- Turn off or unplug your irrigation system during the winter to prevent ice on sidewalks or streets.
- Commercial buildings with fire sprinklers should leave the heat on overnight and on weekends when subfreezing temperatures are forecast.
- For residences, make sure everyone in the household knows where the main water shutoff valve is in case a pipe breaks and it is necessary to turn the water off in a hurry. Check this valve now to make sure it is working.
- Open all cabinet doors to allow heat to enter the areas that contain water pipes. Relocate any toxic materials so children and pets cannot get to them if cabinet doors are left open.
- Keep extra water on hand during freezing weather in case a main break or frozen pipe cuts off your water supply. There currently are no plans to distribute drinking water to residents. If the need arises, distribution sites will be announced.
Suspect a water main is broken? Report the location immediately by using the MyFW app or by calling 817-392-4477 so it can be repaired as soon as possible.
Downed trees and power lines
Downed or damaged trees can be reported on the MyFW app.
Report downed power lines to Oncor and stay away from the area.
Advice from Oncor: Never approach, touch or attempt to move a downed power line or any object in contact with a power line. Contact with power lines can cause serious injury or even death. If you see a downed power line, leave the area immediately and call 911. The 911 operator will contact Oncor directly and manage the situation until Oncor personnel arrive. You can also report downed power lines at 888-313-4747.
Animals
If you see pets in distress — including no shelter, no access to water or stray animals — report it by using the MyFW app or call 817-392-1234.
Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.
