2023-011 2023 Winter Storm After Action Report February 10, 2023 Report No. 2023-011
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
2023 Winter Storm Mara After Action Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Beginning Monday, Jan. 30, a winter weather event impacted significant portions of the state of
Texas and brought freezing temperatures, sleet, and freezing rain to Denton over the course of four
days. The City began preparations the week before and the Emergency Management Office
monitored the weather situation before and throughout the event. Staff mobilized its winter
weather response to safeguard those in our community and emerged from the event with relatively
minimal impacts.
BACKGROUND:
Winter Storm Mara began to impact Denton and the North Texas region on the morning of
Monday, Jan. 30, with freezing temperatures and intervals of sleet and freezing rain that lasted
through Thursday, Feb. 2. During this period, traffic conditions were hazardous due to the icy
precipitation and inability for ice to melt from the roads.
Due to the storm and road conditions, our local universities, Denton Independent School District,
and other governmental jurisdictions closed for much, if not all, of the week. The City of Denton
closed facilities to the public beginning at noon on Monday and remained closed to the public
through Thursday. During this time, essential employees, particularly those necessary for core
services and storm response, reported as usual and employees who could work remotely did so.
Building from its experiences with Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and winter weather events in 2022,
the City and individual departments have created robust plans and procedures to respond to winter
events. These plans and processes began to be put in place in the week prior to the onset of the
storm when the potential impacts of Winter Storm Mara became clear.
Key to the response was the process for open and ongoing communication between departments,
allowing needs to be quickly communicated, resources to be efficiently shared, and the overall
status of each response area to be known by all.
In addition to effective internal communications, the City worked to ensure the public had access
to important storm-related information. The City activated its winter weather information page
(www.cityofdenton.com/winterweather) as a one-stop resource for up-to-date information on the
City's response, provided important information resources on social media channels, and
responded to no less than seventeen (17) information or interview requests from local or regional
media outlets.
DISCUSSION:
While the City Council received twice per day updates in real-time,the information below provides
a final briefing of highlights of the City's response activities during the storm.
February 10, 2023 Report No. 2023-011
While the Denton Enterprise Airport, solid waste collections, the Denton Landfill, recreation
centers, and libraries were forced to suspend services and programs from midday Monday through
Thursday, many important services continued operations in an alternative format:
• Animal Services continued to keep field officers available to respond to emergency calls
and maintained a crew to care for the animals at the McNatt Animal Shelter.
• While their lobby was closed, Customer Services remained available by phone or email
throughout the entire event, with utility customers able to take any action regarding their
utility account or report an issue with their services.
• Parks and Recreation staff provided 24-hour support to other departments throughout the
City, particularly in keeping facilities housing critical operations such as police stations,
fire stations, the Community Shelter at Loop 288, the Service Center, and occupied city
buildings free of ice hazards that would impede our community response.
• After being unable to provide services from Monday afternoon through Thursday, solid
waste services were able to collect all residential and commercial trash on the following
Friday and Saturday with full services returning the following week. Additionally, the
landfill was able to resume operations beginning Thursday afternoon.
Roadway Response
As part of our winter weather response plan, the City utilized five (5) trucks equipped with sand
spreaders to treat icy arterial and collector roadways (whose routes are established and available
to the public). Sand was also used to provide additional traction on bridges, overpasses, hills, and
intersections along the major arterial and collector roadways within the city limits. The motor
grader along with Parks and Recreations truck plows were also used to clear slushy ice
accumulations from select roadways. In addition to the sanding routes, staff coordinated with
emergency services dispatch to address areas where icy conditions were causing challenging or
dangerous conditions. To supplement TxDOT treatment efforts, the City also addressed heavily
traveled service road intersections and partnered with TxDOT to treat the service roads that provide
access to hospitals and medical facilities. The City also assisted hospital emergency rooms by
sanding ambulance driveways and drop-offs. Throughout Winter Storm Mara, the City deployed
approximately 1,099 tons of sand by both Streets and Parks and Recreation crews.
Emergency Services Response
To respond to the anticipated increase in calls for service, the Denton Police Department and
Denton Fire Department increased the number of staff available during the storm event. As
expected, vehicle-related calls for service were significantly elevated, with public safety staff
responding to nearly 180 traffic accidents and just over 200 traffic hazards during this time.
Denton Municipal Electric Response
With any winter storm, particularly one where ice is the main form of precipitation, there is great
concern over the impact of fallen lines due to heavy ice accumulation or tree limb falls and the
associated power outages. While DME increased its staffing to prepare for storm impacts, they
responded to only four (4) power outages affecting a combined total of 160 customers. The
largest outage affected 128 customers who were out of power for only 1 hour and 22 minutes. No
other outage was longer in duration. In addition to the outages, throughout the storm, DME
responded to a number of other requests for service that did not result in an outage.
February 10, 2023 Report No. 2023-011
Estimated Storm Costs
At this time,the additional,unanticipated costs of the response to Winter Storm Mara are estimated
to be $149,489.69. This includes costs for hotel rooms for on-call crews, staff meals, materials,
and overtime costs that were incurred due to the storm.
CONCLUSION:
Building on prior experience, the City was able to communicate and respond effectively to
minimize the impacts of a prolonged winter weather event. Going forward, staff will continue to
enhance winter weather plans and protocols to be even better prepared for similar events in the
future.
STAFF CONTACT:
Ryan Adams
Chief of Staff
Ryan.Adams(k cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8565