News Flash

1. Are permits required for solicitors?
   1. Yes, Solicitor Permits are required in Coppell. All approved solicitors have been screened by the Coppell Police Department in order to help keep Coppell residents safe! Approved solicitors are issued an identification card from the City of Coppell. This card will either say Solicitor’s Permit or Handbill Permit and will contain the solicitor’s information, the company information, and a photo of the solicitor. Learn more.
2. I need to have plumbing repairs completed. Do I need a permit?
   1. Yes, permits and inspections are important to ensure that the repairs are done correctly and performed by a qualified, licensed plumber. The law requires it to help keep you protected! We know that many of our residents are in need of plumbing repairs and Building Inspections staff is working to process your plumbing permit applications and schedule inspections as quickly as possible. All permit applications are online at the Coppell Self Service (CSS) portal. For more information, visit the Building Inspections page.
   2. Registered Plumbers in Coppell (PDF)
3. My home or business is vacant. Can someone check my property?
   1. If you have been displaced from your home or your business has been damaged because of the winter storm, please check out Coppell Police Department's House Checks/Directed Patrols programs! Make sure to leave some lights on and pick up your mail and newspapers. Ask a neighbor to also keep an eye on your property. Learn more on the Coppell Police Department website or call 972-304-3600!
4. What number should I call if I have questions or need assistance?
   1. The City's main line, 972-462-0022 is answered by Town Center staff during normal business hours. 
   2. Residents in need of water shut off can call Coppell Public Works 24/7 at 972-462-5150. Additionally, residents can call the non-emergency line at 469-289-3270.
   3. In the event of an emergency, call 911.
5. If my pipes burst, how do I shut off my water?
   1. In the event of a broken water pipe, it’s important to shut off your water as soon as possible. The City has put together an instructional video explaining how to open your water meter lid and turn off your water. Watch the video to learn what to do!
   2. Review the Cold Weather Plumbing Leak Tips (PDF)
   3. If you need assistance turning off your water, we are here to help! Residents in need of water shut off can call Coppell Public Works 24/7 at 972-462-5150. Additionally, residents can call the non-emergency line at 469-289-3270.
6. Does The CORE have water and showers available?
   1. The CORE has resumed current operating hours and procedures. Anyone needing to utilize the showers or to refill water bottles or jugs is still able to do so.
7. When will trash and recycling collection resume?
   1. Trash and recycling collection will resume on Monday, February 22. Please place your carts and additional bagged waste at your normal collection point by 7 am on Monday and leave them out until they are collected. Republic will work to remove all waste by Monday, but they may be unable to do so. Don’t worry, Republic WILL make it to your neighborhood this week. Thank you for your patience and understanding! Learn more.   
8. Was the City under a boil water notice?
   1. No, the City was not placed under a boil water notice at any point during the storm. 
9. Is the City about to run out of water?
   1. No. Residents may resume normal domestic water usage. 
10. Is the warming center still open?
    1. The CORE has resumed current operating hours and procedures. Anyone needing to utilize the showers or to refill water bottles or jugs is still able to do so.
11. Did Atmos Energy shut off gas supply?
    1. No, Atmos Energy did not shut off gas supply. For any questions regarding your natural gas service and/or pressure, contact Atmos Energy at 888-286-6700.
12. Why was Coppell the worst impacted city in the DFW area? 
    1. As of 9 am on February 20: 9,000 people in Oncor’s service area did not have power, of those 25 were from Coppell.
    2. As of 9:10 pm on February 18: 145,000 people in Oncor’s service area did not have power, of those 80 were from Coppell.
    3. As of 8:20 pm on February 17: 400,000 people in Oncor’s service area did not have power, of those 2,600 were from Coppell.
    4. As of 7:30 am on February 16: 1.1 million people in Oncor’s service area did not have power, of those 9,200 were from Coppell.
    5. According to Oncor, their online storm center map was not an accurate accounting of the areas without power during the weather event. All communities within their service area  experienced outages, some reporting 100% outage throughout the city.
13. Why was there only one warming center in Coppell?
    1. Capacity/utilization, staffing, and resources are the primary drivers that would impact decision-making on any additional warming centers within the City.
       1. Capacity 
          1. We were not close to hitting the building capacity for the warming center at The CORE and we had plenty of room to accommodate additional residents if they felt they need to visit.
       2. Staffing 
          1. We pulled staff members from other departments to make sure we had 24/7 coverage for the warming center. We wanted to ensure that we were not encouraging our staff to get out onto the roadways unless necessary. Additionally, our employees experienced the same power and connectivity issues that our residents faced, even if they live in other communities. Staffing for a second warming center would have been a challenge to accommodate with assurance of safety and smooth operation.
       3. Resources
          1. On people - we balanced everyday services with emergency needs and were limited in our ability to add additional responsibilities to our teams. Many teams are currently on abnormal shifts to ensure that we have 24/7 coverage for all of our services. 
          2. On equipment and other resources - we have finite resources to keep the current service levels operational without adding more. For example, things like generators, fuel, and food/water were measured to sustain operation through the extreme weather event. Diverting those finite resources to a secondary warming center would have meant that we would run out of resources before the weather event ended.
14. Why did the City not use the Arts Center and Life Safety Park warming centers?
    1. The Arts Center generator is not connected to H-VAC, meaning that the generator would not regulate the temperature in the building.
    2. Life Safety Park was utilized as the Emergency Operations Center for the City of Coppell.  
    3. The City was also mindful of generator power and only used it at critical locations.
15. Why did the Arts Center have power the night of February 15? 
    1. The Arts Center was closed on Monday, February 15, and no staff were on site throughout the day. When the power went out in our area, the backup generators were automatically activated. We dispatched staff to the Arts Center to correct this issue once we were made aware.
16. Did the City optimally utilize power in its facilities during the extreme weather event?
    1. Yes, the City evaluated the power distribution in its buildings to ensure that it only utilized generator power at necessary locations such as our critical infrastructure or essential buildings. Essential buildings included: The Justice Center, Town Center, the 265 building which houses Fire Operations, Engineering and Community Development, the Service Center, and the warming center at The CORE.
17. Why was a shelter not established in Coppell?
    1. The City was in contact with Red Cross and other emergency aid networks and worked to gather a list of shelters in our area as they became available. Additionally, the City must receive resources and staffing from the county and state before a shelter can be established.
18. What COVID-19 precautions were taken at the warming center? 
    1. All visitors utilizing the warming center were required to wear face masks and were requested to practice appropriate social distancing from members of other households. We asked people to be considerate of others, self-monitor, and practice all the appropriate safety measures (wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing) that have become habits by now. If anyone in their party was experiencing symptoms or had been exposed to someone experiencing symptoms, we asked that they were mindful of theirs and others safety.  
19. Does the City have any control over the distribution of electricity? 
    1. No, the City has no control over the power grid. ERCOT handles the generation of electricity while Oncor distributes power to customers. Additionally, Oncor maintains the electrical infrastructure within the city.
20. Did the City treat the roadways? 
    1. Yes, the City began treatment of the roads on Saturday, February 13, and continued treatment through the extreme weather event. The City uses a chemical pre-treatment that is more effective and less harsh on the environment than salt. The areas that are targeted for treatment are intersections, bridges, and major roadways.
21. What are the non-emergency Fire and Police department numbers? 
    1. Both the Fire and Police non-emergency number is 469-289-3270. We appreciate your patience on non-emergency calls, and we are responding in the order calls are received.  

We apologize for the difficulties our residents continue to face and request patience as we navigate this difficult situation.