Pflugerville Prepares For Hurricane Harvey

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — City officials on Friday began preparations for the effects of Hurricane Harvey in earnest, with emergency crews at the ready for quick mobilization and an array of resources for residents.

While Pflugerville in particular and Central Texas in general will be saved from the full intensity of the hurricane barreling down on the Texas Gulf Coast, heavy wind and rains are expected from the storm's periphery. As a result, the city's Emergency Operations Center will be activated on Saturday morning to implement the Emergency Operations Center, city officials said.

For its part, the Pflugerville Police Department is coordinating resources to deploy as needed and officials are closely monitoring conditions, officials added.

Residents are being urged to be vigilant of the weather and discuss personal preparedness plans with their families. News releases on the latest developments will be available at www.pflugervilletx.gov/news and updates will also be available throughout the weekend on the municipal Facebook page at (facebook.com/pflugervilletx and facebook.com/pflugervillepolice ) and Twitter (twitter.com/pflugervilletx and twitter.com/pf_police).

For emergency alerts via SMS, residents can text PFPD to 888-777 and email at www.nixle.com.

City officials added that any shelter opened during this event will be part of a coordinated effort among local agencies in the region and announced to the public at that time.

To ensure water system reliability and availability, the Public Works Department is filling storage tanks across town, officials said. In addition, barricades are ready to be installed near common flooding roadway areas, officials said. City trucks have been loaded with sand bags to protect city facilities and debris cleanup crews are on call to keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, officials said.

If a power outage occurs and traffic signals are inoperable, residents are urged to treat the intersection as a four-way stop. Parks and Recreation Department staff have made adjustments to secure parks equipment in case of flooding and are on standby to assist citywide efforts with trucks, tractors and heavy equipment, officials said.

Pflugerville Public Library officials earlier recommended that patrons check out their materials on Friday and stay home during the storm. Library cardholders can continue to access the library via electronic resources such as Hoopla, Freegal and Overdrive for e-books, music and movies, according to library officials.

Pflugerville Animal Welfare Services is prepared at the shelter to coordinate the relocation of any animals if necessary, according to officials.

The city offered a number of tips for residents to be prepared for inclement weather:

• Secure loose items off patios and porches.
• Have batteries and flashlight ready.
• Gather important documents.
• Keep bottles of water in your refrigerator or use refillable bottles you own to capture extra bottles of water now.
• Make a family emergency communication plan that includes pets - visit www.ready.gov/pets for more information.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Check on your neighbors to make sure they are okay.
• Listen to local officials on radio, TV or social media.
• Evacuate when advised by authorities and be alert if you are in a flood or flash flood-prone area.
• Never drive or walk through flooded streets.
• Stay home during rain storms. Keep roads open for emergency responders.
• Turn around, don't drown. Do not go drive or walk through flood waters.