Severity of storm will determine future decisions related to make-up days for trash/recycling collection and other services.

The City of Richardson will cancel residential solid waste collection and close all City facilities tomorrow at 5 p.m. (Thursday, Jan. 9) due to the severe winter weather forecasted to impact the city and surrounding North Texas area within the next 24 hours. A decision regarding Friday operations will be made late Thursday to allow for a thorough assessment of conditions and ensure worker safety during service delivery.

RESIDENTIAL TRASH / RECYCLING / BRUSH AND BULKY ITEM COLLECTION (BABIC)
All Thursday residential solid waste collection, including trash, recycling, and BABIC, is canceled due to anticipated icy road conditions and the closure of the facility that processes the City’s recycling materials. Collections are delayed or suspended when conditions prevent vehicles from safely navigating alleys or pose a risk of injury to personnel during the collection process.

For up-to-date information on solid waste collection, visit www.cor.net/ServiceDelays.

Announcements on any makeup days will be made tomorrow or Friday.

COMMERCIAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
Commercial solid waste collection will operate as long as conditions safely allow on Thursday but will cease once road conditions become too hazardous. These operations can proceed as scheduled due to receptacles being located in open areas and an automated system, which enables a single operator to collect materials without exiting the vehicle.

FACILITY SERVICE IMPACT Information
The following City facilities will close at 5 p.m. tomorrow and may close earlier if conditions deteriorate more quickly than expected.

  • Animal Shelter
  • City Hall and City Hall Annex
  • Eisemann Center
  • Gymnastics Center
    • All classes canceled
  • Heights Recreation Center
  • Huffhines Recreation Center
  • Huffhines Tennis Center
  • Public Library
  • Ray Noah Municipal Court
  • Senior Center
  • Service Center
  • Sherrill Park Golf Course
  • The IQ® HQ

An announcement on Friday’s schedule will be announced tomorrow once the impacts of severe winter weather can be better determined.

Other Impacts
Public Meetings Scheduled for Thursday:
All public meetings scheduled for Thursday have been canceled. Any decisions regarding rescheduling will be announced later.

Protection for Frozen Pipes
Anyone who experiences frozen pipes should shut off the main water supply to the property. For residential properties, the main water shut off valve should be located along an outside wall of the house. It is typically located next to the house’s main water meter.

  • If you cannot turn off the main water supply to your house, call the City of Richardson’s 24-hour Response Line at 972-744-4111.
  • Once the water has been shut off, open all faucets in the house to reduce pressure on the pipes and minimize flooding if the pipes burst.
  • If you can access the frozen pipe you can attempt to thaw it by using a hair dryer or space heater. You should never use an open flame.
  • Examine exposed pipes for leaks, which may appear as the lines begin to thaw.
  • Contact a professional plumber to inspect and make necessary repairs to the frozen pipes.

Warming Centers
The City is offering three 24-hour warming centerslocated in the lobbies at the following locations:

  • Richardson Police Department Administration Building
    200 N. Greenville Ave.
  • Richardson Fire Department Station 3
    500 W. Lookout Dr.
  • Richardson Fire Department Station 6
    3591 Park Vista Rd.

(NOTE: Warming centers are intended to provide temporary shelter and are not equipped with beds or other long-term amenities. Service animals are allowed, but not pets.) 

STREET MAINTENANCE
Street Maintenance crews from the Public Services Department will work around-the-clock in response to the winter weather. When ice builds up and causes dangerous driving conditions, crews spread sand on high priority areas—bridges, major roads, intersections and hospital driveways. School zones are sanded upon special request. The sand increases vehicle traction, but drivers are still urged to drive cautiously.

Street sweeper crews will begin operations to collect all sand spread throughout a storm event as soon as possible at the conclusion of severe weather impacts. It usually takes several weeks to complete cleanup operations.

Utilities
ONCOR (Electricity)
888-313-4747 – Report Outage Online

Notify the Texas electric delivery service, ONCOR, immediately to report a power outage by phone at 888-313-4747 or visit the ONCOR website. Have your ESID and ZIP code ready (your ESID is on your electric bill). You can pre-register your location by texting “reg” to 66267 (ONCOR).

To prevent secondary outages, reduce initial demand once power has been restored by adjusting thermostats and turning off lights. Leave on your porch light to let working crews know when power has been restored.

ATMOS (Gas)
866-322-8667 – Atmos Storm Center

If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number at 866-322-8667.

Call the ATMOS 24/7 emergency line if you suspect a natural gas leak or have a service issue after hours such as a damaged or inaccessible meter and/or an unexpected service interruption at 866-322-8667.

Natural Gas Safety Information:

  • Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home.
  • Snow and ice buildup can damage gas meters and pipes and make them difficult to reach in an emergency. Carefully remove snow and ice from meters and pipes by gently using a broom or brush.
  • Make sure that external vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment are clear. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas.

Stay Informed
Once a winter weather event occurs, you can keep up on impacts to services on the City’s social media channels and news outlets.

Online: www.cor.net/WinterWeather
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RichardsonToday/
Nextdoor: nextdoor.com/agency-detail/tx/richardson/city-of-richardson/

The City also offers an Emergency Notification System to rapidly notify residents and businesses through calls, texts, and e-mails and provide vital life safety instructions in a timely manner. Online registration is available on the City’s website at www.cor.net/Alerts.

When you receive an alert, press 1 or reply YES to acknowledge the message and stop the contact cycle.

For information and updates on the City of Richardson’s winter weather response, visit www.cor.net/winterweather.