City Of Tyler Prepares For Extended Period Of Sub-Freezing Weather

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Arctic Blast - Polar Vortex - Winter Storm - whatever you want to call it East Texas is going to be plunged into its first major deep freeze of the winter season. An Arctic cold front will soon be barrelling down on the area and bringing with it the coldest air of the year so far. The entire East Texas area could remain below freezing for at least 48 hours some areas up to 90 hours along I-30, beginning Sunday evening.

Hard Freeze Anticipated For East Texas

KLTV 7 weather anchor Andrew Tate says along with the freezing temperatures comes the possibility of a wintry mix - freezing rain, sleet, and snow. All of this is causing cities, like Tyler, to prepare and possibly enact their emergency winter plans.

Monday is a holiday, MLK Day, so traffic should be light and if the roads are impacted by a wintry mix road crews can respond quicker to problem areas within the city. City crews will focus on major arteries, the hospital district, and bridges and overpasses.

If trees or limbs fall on roadways the Tyler Street Department will be on call to remove the debris. If power lines are brought down because of those trees and limbs, residents may report them to Oncor or the non-emergency number for the Tyler Police Department.

Tyler Street Department - M-F 8a-5p - 903.531.1393
Tyler Police non-emergency - 903.531.1000
Oncor - 888.313.4747

Warming Centers

Anyone who doesn't have adequate access to heat during this extreme weather event can warm up at a Warming Center. At the time of this publication, the only warming center currently available is The Salvation Army at 633 N. Broadway Ave. This facility is open 24 hours a day and no proof of residency is required.

The following locations are on standby and will open as a warming center if the need arises.

American Red Cross, various locations
Highway 80 Rescue Mission, 601 E. Valentine St.
St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Hwy.
Bethel Bible - Hope Campus, 504 W. 32nd St.
Day Spring UMC, 310 W. Cumberland Rd. (will accept pets if kenneled)
Grace Community Church, 3215 Old Jacksonville Hwy.
Green Acres Baptist Church, 1607 Troup Hwy.
Kingdom Church, 1818 N. Confederate Ave.
Shiloh Road Church of Christ, 1801 Shiloh Rd.
Marvin UMC, 300 W. Erwin St.

During this Arctic blast, we have to remember the 4 P's:

• People
• Pets
• Pipes
• Plants

Be sure to check on elderly family members and neighbors and make sure they are comfortable.

Pets need a way to escape the brisk wind and get warm. Reinforce their outdoor homes, place additional blankets or straw, and face the door away from the wind. If possible, bring them indoors during the most extreme overnight hours or let them stay in the garage.

Make sure those outdoor pipes and exposed faucets are covered properly.

Bring in any temperature-sensitive plants.

It is going to be cold, but not near as cold as it was a couple of years ago around here.