Due to continued weather conditions and dangerous roadways, city facilities in New Braunfels will remain closed on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
According to a city press release, the closures include the following:
- Das Rec
- New Braunfels City Hall
- The New Braunfels Public Library
- Parks and Recreation Offices
- The City Recycling Center
- The Westside Community Center
Plans for trash and recycle pick-up have yet to be determined and additional closures could be announced in the coming hours and days as weather conditions remain hazardous.
Original story
In much of Central Texas, temperatures plummeted over the weekend and up to 4 inches of snow blanketed the ground in some areas.
On Feb. 14, Comal and Guadalupe counties declared local disasters following Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide disaster declaration Feb. 12. The declarations will remain in effect for up to seven days.
The declarations state that severe weather could lead to power outages, dangerous roadways and unsafe infrastructure. Residents are encouraged to stay home and seek shelter.
“Please, stay home and off the roads right now,” said Comal County Judge Sherman Krause in a Feb. 14 press release.
On Feb. 15, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas declared an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3, which allows utility companies to begin rotating power outages to keep up with consumer demand.
Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electrical services, according to a press release from New Braunfels Utilities, and are only used as a last resort to ensure the electric system’s reliability as a whole.
Consumers are encouraged to reduce electrical consumption as much as possible by setting their thermostats to 68 degrees, avoiding using large appliances and turning off lights and electronic devices whenever possible.
NBU offices and drive-thru services will be closed Feb. 15-16, and trash and recycling pickup schedules in New Braunfels have been shifted by one day with service expected to resume Feb. 16.
Additionally, Comal and New Braunfels Independent School Districts will not hold in-person classes on Tuesday, Feb. 16, due to inclement weather.
For more information about local outages and conservation recommendations, residents can visit NBU's website, and information about emergency declarations can be found on the Comal County website.
