The city of Conroe issued a disaster declaration Feb. 19 following the winter storm and subfreezing temperatures that began Feb. 15. The declaration authorizes the city to seek state and federal assistance for recovery from the disaster.

City streets and highways were rendered impassible for extended periods of time, and widespread electric power outages during the storm exacerbated the damages to water pipes, according to the declaration.

The Conroe Fire Department responded to 143 calls for service in the 24-hour period Feb. 16, with the majority of the incidents involving burst water pipes due to the weather situation, according to a news release from the department. The typical calls for service range between 28-35 per 24-hour period.

"The winter storm has and will result in a material and substantial hardship for the people of Conroe and cause loss of tax and other revenues to the City of Conroe which are of such severity as to be beyond the ability of the city ... to adequately and effectively respond without state or federal assistance," the declaration reads. "There are not sufficient local resources to meet the disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by the disaster."