Updates from utilities, governmental entities and essential businesses
Individual sections are being updated as new information becomes available.
BARNABAS CONNECTION: 12 p.m., February 18
Barnabas is working with Cypress Creek Church, Wimberley Youth Sports Association WYSA, Wimberley Athletics Wimberley ISD , Wimberley Market Days - Lions Club, Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Cade Wright, Crisis Bread Basket, Amigos De Jesus, and volunteer drivers and callers, to coordinate food and water efforts. If you have a need, please call (512)710-5825 for the CCC Helpline the Barnabas Helpline, or email them on Facebook. They will do their best to fulfill any critical need, pending road safety. Also, please remember that Wimberley First Baptist Church and CCC are both open for shelter.
PEC: 11:30 a.m., February 17
“Service interruptions will continue throughout the day. Some are lasting 10-20 minutes in duration today. To the extent we can, we are working to get these interruptions on a more predictable level so that our members can have enough time to get their phones charged, etc. We’ll be communicating heavily through our social media posts today and through other means including the web and member emails. We ask that everyone follow our social channels and check our website for the latest. Thank you!”
Mike Viesca
PEC VP of Public Affairs
PEC UPDATE: 3:00 p.m., Feburary 17
"We have successfully refined our rolling service interruptions process. These outages are now happening for approximately 1.5 hours every 3 hours. We are doing what we can to provide some consistency for members experiencing these interruptions. This process is subject to change at any time."
AQUA TEXAS: 2:30 p.m., February 17
As freezing temperatures and icy conditions continue to cause a state of emergency in Texas, water utility crews from Aqua Texas are responding and restoring service to customers as quickly as possible when it is safe to travel.
Aqua operates many well water systems statewide that require electricity to operate and deliver water to homes and businesses. As rolling power outages are underway to manage electricity demand, power loss to some Aqua systems has been ongoing. There is also the possibility that systems that had water service previously restored could lose service again because of these rolling power outages. If customers currently have water service, Aqua recommends filling bathtubs and containers with water, which can be used for bathing.
When water service is restored, Aqua asks customers to disinfect tap water by boiling it. Purify all water that could be ingested — through uses such as drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice — by bringing it to a rolling boil for two minutes and letting it cool before consuming it. It is better that young infants and pregnant women use bottled or stored water instead of boiled tap water whenever possible for drinking and cooking until the boil water advisory is lifted. Aqua will test water samples and notify customers when they no longer must boil their water.
Aqua also asks customers to sign up for WaterSmart alerts, an automated service designed for quick, reliable communication about water quality and service in case of disruption. Aqua’s WaterSmart alerts are delivered by phone, text or email.
Aqua reminds customers that sub-freezing temperatures can cause household pipes to burst and quickly cause damage. If customers can locate the frozen area of a pipe, and if their home has power and water service, they can turn on a spigot and use a hand-held hair dryer (blow dryer) or heat tape to thaw the area. If this does not resolve the issue, contact a licensed plumber.
Aqua Texas serves about 200,000 people in 54 counties statewide. Customers can find water service updates on the Texas page of AquaAmerica.com and on facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and twitter.com/MyAquaAmerica.
Wimberley Water Supply Corporation: 2:30 p.m., February 17
A boil water notice has been issued for all customers of Wimberley Water Supply Corporation. Though there are outages only in certain areas of the system, we are issuing the boil water notice for the entire system to err on the side of caution. This boil water notice will remain in effect until further notice. For any questions, please contact our office at 512-847-2323 or email [email protected].
City of Woodcreek: 10:40 a.m., February 18
Woodcreek Mayor Gloria Whitehead declared a State of Disaster for severe freezing weather and power outages. The entire disaster declaration can be found here.
The City of Woodcreek expects Aqua Texas to issue a boil water notice as the system regains pressure. When lines experience low pressure over a certain amount of time, a boil water order is issued as a safety precaution. Water is safe for washing and bathing but could contain bacteria due to the slow flow. Any water recovered from plumbing systems should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it.
Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Aqua continues to work with area vendors to have additional supplies of bottled water delivered to Woodcreek.
Wimberley ISD: February 18, 9:45 a.m.
Wimberley ISD has extended its current closure through the end of the week to now also include Friday, February 19.
As our area continues to deal with various effects from the current winter storm, WISD realizes many of its staff members and families have more pressing health and safety matters to attend to instead of school.
In addition, with unknown electrical and water issues at our campuses and potential busing system issues due to freezing temperature forecasts on Friday morning, WISD administrators have decided it would be best to not return to school until Monday, February 22.
H-E-B Wimberley: 12 p.m., February 17
Representatives from H-E-B indicated that Heb.com/newsroom has the latest information and that it changes often. They also noted that road conditions in Wimberley were causing issues.
Brookshire Brothers Wimberley: 12 p.m., February 17
According to District Director Nick Radke, the Wimberley store is open when the power is on. Hours of operation have been reduced to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. They are experiencing consistent rolling outages, but they have been able to get customers in and out of the store quickly and efficiently when the power is restored each time. The store is currently out of a few essentials, but they have fresh meat to cut and produce to sell, as well as plenty of dry goods. Wimberley Store Director Daylen Welch said he couldn’t be more proud of his staff who have braved the severe conditions to help serve the community in its time of need.
First Baptist Church Wimberley: 4:20 p.m., February 17
“We have buildings at the church available if people need to warm up,” Pastor Scott Tidwell at the Wimberley First Baptist Church said. “We have had people here overnight since Sunday night. Our power is intermittent. When it is on, it warms up. When it is off, it isn’t too bad. We do have food available for those who need it.”
Cypress Creek Church: 4:30 p.m., February 17
Cypress Creek Church is open right now. They are sending people who can get there to First Baptist Church, because they have a commercial kitchen. If they cannot get to First Baptist Church, people can come to Cypress Creek Church. Power has been on and off intermittently.