Hurricane Harvey Aftermath Briefing

UPDATE: Hello Woodlands streamed the briefing LIVE on our Facebook page at https://Facebook.com/HelloWoodlands

Video is available below, briefing begins at 2:30 minute mark:

The Woodlands Fire Department and emergency officials continue to monitor the effects of Harvey on The Woodlands. As of Wednesday, The Woodlands Township Emergency Operations Center has shifted into recovery mode. Efforts are underway to help The Woodlands get back to normal and to assist those in need.

Township Chairman Gordy Bunch will hold a Hurricane Harvey Aftermath Briefing at The Woodlands Township Board Chambers, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, 77381, at 4:30 p.m. today, August 30, 2017. Fire Chief Alan B. Benson will join Chairman Bunch in a discussion of Hurricane Harvey and its effects before, during and after on The Woodlands residents and businesses. The briefing will be streamed live on the Township website.

The general public is welcomed to attend, offer information regarding the storm and ask questions. Topics to be covered include the State of the Township, Fire Department rescues, shelters, volunteer and donation items, FEMA declaration, fraud warnings, communications, waste pickup and opening of business.

GENERAL TOWNSHIP UPDATES

Township offices are open regular business hours on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, and through the rest of the week.

The Woodlands Express is not operating until further notice. Town center Trolleys will resume service tomorrow, Thursday, August 31, 2017.

Due to conditions on Lake Woodlands, the boat houses are not open, and public use of the lake is restricted.

Parks personnel are working to reopen the pools and parks, understanding that some parks have sustained damage and may still have standing water and are being repaired as conditions allow. Pools are expected to open Saturday, and recreation programs will resume at the Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park tomorrow, Thursday, August 31, 2017.

Due to recent weather events resulting from Hurricane Harvey and its impact to our community and surrounding areas, Labor Day in The Woodlands scheduled for this Sunday at Waterway Square has been cancelled. Although the severe weather in The Woodlands area has subsided, the Township has shifted into recovery mode and remains focused on assessing and repairing storm damage in its facilities throughout The Woodlands.

The Township has received notice of the President’s FEMA Declaration for Montgomery and Harris Counties. This declaration will allow county governments to initiate debris removal programs, provide reimbursement of certain emergency expenses incurred by local government during the emergency and will allow individuals to start filing for emergency assistance.

Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
For Harris County clean-up assistance, contact CrisisCleanup.org, visit HarrisRecovery.org, or call 1-800-451-1954 to report your need.

TRASH AND DEBRIS

Storm Debris
Montgomery and Harris Counties will manage all storm debris removal. Waste Management will NOT pick up storm debris. The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management will notify residents once they are prepared to field requests for debris removal. Montgomery County is in the process of developing plans for pickup. More details will be forthcoming when available. For Harris County, please contact CrisisCleanup.org, visit HarrisRecovery.org, or call 1-800-451-1954.

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Recycling Center on Pruitt Road is accepting debris that is brought to their Budde Rd location.

Waste Management curbside service has resumed Wednesday, 8/30. Most services are on a two-day delay, resuming normal service on Monday, September 4. No curbside recycling services this week.

Important details to note:

• Service days are pushed forward 2 days this week only. If your normal service day was Monday, 8/28 you will be serviced on Wednesday, 8/30. Friday service areas will be serviced on Sunday, 9/3.
• The service schedule will return to normal next week, the week of 9/4.
• Available services the week of 8/28 include trash, yard trimmings and existing bulk pickup requests (new requests will not be accepted this week). Recycling service is NOT available this week due to flooding issues with our regional processing facility. Recycling will resume the week of 9/4.
• Labor Day will NOT interrupt or delay services. Waste Management will provide curbside pickup of trash, recycling and yard trimmings to all residents on their regularly scheduled service day, including Monday, September 4, 2017.
• The Recycling Drop-Off Center at 5310 Research Forest Drive, will maintain normal operating hours beginning Wednesday, September 6. Normal hours are Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Please continue to follow all normal solid waste guidelines: www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/trashandrecycling.

View More information about trash and recycling pickup and solid waste tips and solutions during storm events.

MAIL

All mail service for territory prefixes beginning with 770, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778 is suspended until further notice.

Priority Mail Express (overnight packages) are suspended until Friday, September 1st. For updates: https://about.usps.com/…/servic…/business-weather-updates.htm

HIGH WATER LOCATIONS
Waters are receding as expected and will continue to recede at normal rates.
No active evacuations in The Woodlands. The Woodlands Fire Department Emergency Operations Center is being de-escalated and is in the process of demobilization.

ROAD CONDITIONS
Go to https://mctxoem.org/ or www.HoustonTranstar.org for alerts and advisories including road closures.

SHELTER LOCATIONS
Woodlands Church at 1 Fellowship Way on Highway 242 has space and supplies on hand. Needs volunteers to serve, work in shifts, and support those in need who arrive throughout today and the rest of the week. For those in need of rescue or immediate assistance please call the church’s Disaster Relief Hotline: 936-217-5026
Church Project, 295 Sawdust Road, plenty of available space and fully stocked as of Wednesday morning.
College Park High School on Highway 242 has plenty of available as of Tuesday afternoon and supplies on hand.
Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe, 9055 Airport Road, 77303. Does accept pets.
Cots and bedding are a priority need at Lonestar Convention Center, also, coloring books, crayons, basketballs for the many children there.
St. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Loch Drive, The Woodlands 77381.
Some shelters are accepting pets with owner supervision.

Please continue to contact Interfaith of The Woodlands for updates on shelters and needs, or to make provisions.

POWER

Some scattered power outages remain.

Please visit www.entergystormcenter.com for power outage updates in the Entergy-served area, and CenterPoint Energy website for updates for areas served by CenterPoint Energy.

Due to danger to residents and the public presented by electrical distribution facilities impacted by flood waters, electric service is subject to being disconnected in flooded areas until flood waters recede to the point this danger no longer exists. Affected residents are to be notified by the power companies prior to a disconnect. When the hazard is mitigated, power companies will restore power to these homes as soon as possible.

The public is urged to follow these important electric and natural gas safety tips:

Electric
Stay away from downed power lines. Be especially mindful of downed lines that could be hidden in flood waters and treat all downed lines as if they are energized.
Once away from the area, call CenterPoint Energy and we will respond as soon as it is safe to do so.
When possible, we recommend that you contact a licensed electrician to advise and assist during flood conditions in turning power off at the breaker box and back on. If it appears that water will get as high as the outlets in your house, we recommend that you cut off power at the breaker box only if you are able to do so safely and without standing in water.
If you experienced flooding above the electrical outlets in your home, contact a licensed electrician before turning on the main circuit breaker or trying to restore power.
All electrical appliances and electronic equipment that have been submerged in water need to dry thoroughly for at least one week. Then, have them checked by a qualified repair person before turning them on. Attempting to repair a flood-damaged appliance could result in electrical shock or death. Attempting to restart it could result in further damage and costly repairs.
If the outside unit of an air conditioning system has been under water, mud and water may have accumulated in the controls. Have the unit checked by a qualified air conditioning technician.

Natural Gas
Do not turn off your natural gas service at the meter; doing so could allow water to enter the natural gas lines.
Be alert for the smell of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too.
If you smell gas, do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator.
Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely away from the area, call 888-876-5786 and once it is safe, CenterPoint Energy will send a trained service technician.

SCHOOLS

As of this posting, Conroe ISD, Magnolia ISD, Tomball ISD, all closed until Sept. 5, 2017.

DRINKING WATER SAFE in The Woodlands, despite rumors

Despite numerous rumors throughout social media, the two major municipal water districts serving residents in The Woodlands report water is safe to drink.

The Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (WJPA) and Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 report drinking water for residents of The Woodlands is safe. Here is contact information: 855-H2o-SAVE (855-426-7283).

Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 customers are advised to reduce use of the sanitary sewer services when possible to avoid sewage flowing back into your homes. This includes the use of sewer drains, basins, toilets, washing machines, baths and showers. The District’s sanitary sewer system has been flooded with storm water and much of the Harris County MUD 387 wastewater treatment plant located on Gosling Road and sanitary sewer lift stations throughout the District have been significantly damaged by the flood waters. The drinking water is safe to consume. The district is monitoring the water continuously and will advise via alert IF and WHEN this condition ever changes and it becomes unsafe. To report MAJOR water and sewer emergencies, call Municipal District Services at 281-290-6503. Please note that this message pertains to ONLY the Harris County portion of the District. That includes Creekside Park and Carlton Woods at Creekside.

Volunteering and Donations
The following information is provided for those who would like to volunteer or make donations to help victims of the storm.

Interfaith of The Woodlands has been the main source for social services in The Woodlands since The Woodlands was founded, and is coordinating efforts to meet basic needs of individuals and families in the local shelters, including making plans for long-term housing for displaced families. Please visit the Interfaith website for ways to volunteer and assist.

You can also sign up to volunteer with Interfaith and with other organizations at the site.

Interfaith of The Woodlands
4242 Interfaith way
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Phone: 281-367-1230
Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Interfaith of The Woodlands will accept the following donations:
Food, clothing, bedding items and new undergarments.

Please check the Interfaith Facebook and website for further updates.
The immediate needs are:
-Non-perishable food
-Snacks
-Water
-Shoes
-Diapers
-Wipes
-New undergarments
-New blankets
-New pillows
-New towels

Other needed supplies and tips for donating
Toiletries
New socks
Diapers and baby supplies
Cleaning supplies
Non-perishable food items
Light blankets
Air mattresses
Limited clothing: Please do not bring bags full of clothing. What is needed:
Mostly men’s items – especially Large and XL plus men’s shoes
Some women’s and children’s clothing
Note: Please fold each item and label by size and style (Men, Women, Boy, Girl). The shelters do not have the capacity to sort clothing at this time so this will be a huge help.

Thank you to all for your caring assistance to our friends and neighbors in need.

MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and follow the Harvey Recovery Updates. You can also keep up through the Township’s Facebook and Twitter channels.