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News
June 2009
June 30, 2009
Governor Perry has
extended Judge Sylvia’s Executive Order banning restricted fireworks.
Therefore, the restricted fireworks ban will be in effect until 7am on
July 6, 2009.
FYI, that little “sprinkle” that some of us got didn’t lower the drought index at all! In fact, it is still 605 just like it was before the sprinkle. I think maybe it just made the grass mad.
Coordinator
Chambers County
Emergency Management
PO Box 957
Anahuac, TX 77514
Office: 409-267-2400
Fax: 409-267-4133
June 30, 2009
Due to the fact that our drought index continues to rise, and the fact that rain is not expected soon, our neighboring County, Liberty County, was successful in their request to the Governor to uphold a ban on "restricted fireworks". This does not restrict all fireworks, only missiles with fins and rockets with sticks.
Therefore, County Judge Jimmy Sylvia has signed a similar order on restrictions of sale or use of such fireworks. This order is in effect for 60 hours unless an extension is granted by Governor Perry. We have sent the request to the Governor.
An example picture of the banned fireworks is attached, along with the Judge's Order.
THIS BAN DOES NOT APPLY TO OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED PUBLIC DISPLAYS.
Ryan Holzaepfel
Chambers County
Emergency Management Coordinator
Office: 409-267-2445
Fax: 409-267-4133
Click on Pictures to Enlarge
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Subject: County Callout List
I’m sure most of you are aware that the county is able to do mass automated dial-outs to deliver important messages. However, there are a few shortfalls we have noticed.
1. If you have an IP phone such as Vonage, your number isn’t listed in our 911 database.
2. If you don’t have a landline and primarily rely on your cell phone, that number isn’t in our 911 database either.
3. Lastly, if you are not home and do not answer the call, your recorder may not get the message. That’s when you would want your cell number on the list as well.
Therefore, if you or someone you know would like your cell phone or Vonage number added to our callout database, please reply by email or give us a call at the office. All we need is your name and 10 digit phone number. Please spread the word to your friends and family.
Thanks,
Ryan Holzaepfel
Coordinator
Chambers County
Emergency Management
PO Box 957
Anahuac, TX 77514
Office: 409-267-2400
Fax: 409-267-4133
June 26, 2009
Power Watch – Conservation Needed
Electric Grid Operator Predicting Record Electricity Demand Today
“We are expecting high electricity demand today due to the heat advisory
in effect for much of the state,” Vice President of System Planning and
Operations Kent Saathoff said. “We don’t anticipate any
electricity emergencies but due to the effect of some unplanned
generation outages, we expect to have minimal reserves available, which
could increase the possibility that we will declare an advisory or
further steps in the
Energy Emergency Alert procedures. We will be monitoring
the grid very closely.”
·
Set air conditioning thermostats to 80 degrees or higher.
·
Cool with fans.
·
Close blinds and drapes on windows that get direct sun.
·
Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
·
Avoid using big appliances between the hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
Power Watches are issued by the regional electric grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), during periods of high demand when supplies of reserve power are low. At this stage, ERCOT has emergency measures to bring on additional generation, so rotating outages are not likely. However, if all sources of supplies are exhausted or large generation outages occur, ERCOT will order utilities to begin reducing load by cutting service through rotating outages.
The ERCOT Region includes Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Abilene and the Rio Grande Valley. It does not include the El Paso area, the Texas Panhandle, Northeast Texas (Longview, Marshall and Texarkana), and Southeast Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and the Woodlands). Region map: http://www.ercot.com/news/mediakit/maps/index.html
Check your electric bill to identify your utility company or transmission provider.
American Electric Power 877-373-4858
CenterPoint Energy
800-752-8036
Oncor
888-313-4747
Sharyland Utilities 956-668-9551
Texas-New Mexico Power 888-866-7456
Outside ERCOT
Entergy-Texas 800-968-8243
Texas Public Power Association, http://www.tppa.com/
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/electric/directories/index.cfm
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/electric/links.cfm
http://www.ercot.com/mktparticipants/index.html
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/conserve/index.cfm
June 25, 2009
Fireworks and Burn Ban
We have had some inquiries, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew that as of today, there is not a ban on fireworks in Chambers County. However, there is an outdoor burning ban.
To further clarify, the reason there is not a ban on fireworks is that the measure would have had to have taken place at the June 9th Commissioners Court meeting. At that time, Chambers County was not in a drought situation according to the KBDI average provided by the Texas Forest Service. By June 17th when the situation warranted an outdoor burning ban, the deadline for banning aerial fireworks had passed.
There is still a possibility that the County could ban fireworks, but it would have to fall under an emergency disaster declaration. In consultation with the state, we were informed that such a declaration for banning fireworks would only be valid for 60 hours unless upheld by the state. We were also informed that the state would not uphold such a declaration unless, among other criteria, several fires were occuring in the county in which state resources had to be requested.
I hope this helps clarify. It is not always as cut and dry as it may seem. Cities are, by law, granted the authority to place higher restrictions on fireworks and outdoor burning than Counties are allowed.
Thanks,
Ryan Holzaepfel
Coordinator
Chambers County
Emergency Management
PO Box 957
Anahuac, TX 77514
Office: 409-267-2400
Fax: 409-267-4133
June 24, 2009
BATS
Now that it is spring/summer, we are seeing more bats in East Texas. Some of the species that migrated south to spend the winter in warmer climates have returned to our area. In addition, the major maternity season for bats in the US and Canada is from April through August.
The bat maternity season is significant for two reasons:
1. Since the young bats, called “pups,” may not be too adept at flying, some of them end up on the ground in their early efforts at flying. In all probability, they are not ill; they just don’t have their flight skills perfected yet.
2. Also, sometimes the mother bat actually carries the young with her as she flies. However, because of the extra weight she is carrying in the form of the pups, she may occasionally make a crash landing and rest awhile.
Though either of these “maternity” scenarios can result in a healthy bat’s being “grounded” or “downed,” we cannot be completely sure that any bat within reach of a human or a pet is not ill. Therefore, it is important to educate your citizens/clients about the need to avoid direct contact with any bat.
If a bat comes into contact with a person, either by flying into the person, landing on the person, or by being picked up or handled by the person, the person should try to capture the bat without further skin contact, so it can be tested for rabies. If available, an adult should carry out the capture. Contact animal control or a veterinarian to have the bat tested. There may be a cost to the person wanting the bat tested; however, it is certainly worth the money, if the bat has had contact with a person or a pet. If the bat is not available for testing, the person should speak with a physician or health department to assess the exposure.
If a person finds a “downed” bat or a bat in a building, and there has been NO human or pet exposure, and an adult is available and willing to do so, capture the bat and release it outside in an area distant from people.
Do NOT touch the bat. Wear gloves and simply cover the bat with a small box or empty coffee can and slide a stiff piece of cardboard underneath so the bat is trapped inside the box or can. Some bats need to be above the ground to take flight, so moving the bat to a tree will help the bat be on its way. While still wearing your gloves, you can remove the cover and place the box on its side in a tree. The bat may immediately fly or crawl out of the box onto the branches, or it may not fly away until dark. If the bat appears to be injured, you can contact animal control for help in disposing of the bat. If you would like to try to have the bat rehabilitated, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has information on state permitted wildlife rehabilitators.
Remember that a bat may look dead, but “come to life” when disturbed. Therefore, use precautions when picking up any bat.
The other point associated with the bat maternity season concerns excluding or evicting bats from a building attic or other roost in which the bats have taken up residence. Now is not an ideal time to do exclusion because the young are not yet able to fly. If you do an exclusion (bat eviction) now, the adults will be able to get out, but the young will not. The pups will be trapped inside. Bat exclusion is best carried out in early spring (before maternity season) or in the fall (after August) when the young bats are able to fly well.
Even during the maternity season, if a building has bats in its walls or attic, we do not want them to get lost and come into the parts of the building that people use. Therefore, any openings (they may be very tiny) that connect areas in a building where bats roost with interior living or working quarters should be sealed shut so that bats cannot enter those sections. Then when young are able to fly, the entire colony can be evicted and the building bat–proofed to prevent bats from returning.
One other reminder: Bats like to swoop down and grab a drink from standing water, such as a farm pond or swimming pool. They are not attacking people in or around the pond or pool. They are just looking for a drink. If a bat’s sonar navigation is “off” because it is ill, the bat could end up crashing into the pool. A homeowner sometimes finds a dead bat floating in the pool or in the pool’s “skimmer.” In either case, the possibility of a dead bat in the pool presenting a health risk to people who might swim in the pool is remote. There are several reasons for the low risk:
1. The rabies virus does not live well outside the animal. Therefore, if a dead bat floating in a pool had rabies, the virus would not live very long after the bat died.
2. The dilution factor of a small amount of virus in the large volume of water in the pool would reduce any risk.
3. The relatively high concentration of chlorine in the pool water would inactivate the virus.
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June 17, 2009
BURN BAN IN EFFECT FOR CHAMBERS COUNTY!!
Ryan Holzaepfel
Coordinator
Chambers County
Emergency Management
PO Box 957
Anahuac, TX 77514
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June 16, 2009
Councilwoman, Adonna Creel's mother, Mrs. Geogia Parkinson, passed away Sunday Morning, June 14, 2009 at home. Funeral Services are at San Jacinto Memorial Park (off I-10, Freeport exit) 14659 East Freeway, Houston, TX 77015.
Viewing Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
Services Thursday June 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.