OUTAGES.
OUTAGES. +@
OUTAGES. >>> THE ROADS ARE STILL
COVERED.
COVERED.
COVERED. YOU NEED TO SLOW UP.
YOU'RE UP WITH "DAYBREAK."
>>> GOOD M+@ORNING AND THANK YO
FOR WAKING UP WITH US ON THIS
THURSDAY.
THURSDAY.
THURSDAY. I'M KARA SEWELL IN DOWNTOWN
DALLAS WITH GREG FIELDS AND
TASHARA PARKER.
TASHARA PARKER. MARC ISTOOK IS WORKING FROM
HOME.
HOME.
HOME. I
HOME. I TH+@INK PEOPLE ARE BEYOND
FRUS+@TRATION BUT THERE ARE SOM
FEELING HOPEFUL AS MORE POWER
IS BEING RESTORED.
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> YES. THAT'S CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS FOR
THOSE FOLKS.
THOSE FOLKS. WINTER EVENTS CAN BE FUN.
YOU DID THE TO PLAY OUT IN THE
SNOW BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A FUN
WEE+@K FOR SO MANY BECAUSE YOU'
SEEN HISTORICALLY LOW
TEMPERATURES THAT CAUSED PEOPLE
TO LOSE THEIR POWER, PIP+@ES
BURST, PEOPLE HAVING TO BOIL
WATER AND TRYING TO DO SO
WITHOUT POWER.
WITHOUT POWER. WE'RE DOING THAT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A PANDEMIC, WHICH IS MAKING
IT +@THAT MUCH MO+@RE DIFFICULT
GREG FIELDS, WHEN WILL WE SEE+@
WARMING TEMPERATURES.
WARMING TEMPERATURES. >>> MAYBE NOT UNTIL TOMORROW
AFTERNOON.
AFTERNOON. YES.
YES.
YES. WE
YES. WE HAVE COLD TEMPERATURES, ONE
MORE COLD NIGH+@T BEFORE +@THE
TEMPERATURES BOUNCE BACK.
GETTING YOU OUT, IT IS CHILLY.
20 DEGREES IN WEATHERFORD.
THE SNOW IS COVERED THERE.
IT HASN'T HAD +@A CHANCE TO MEL
FEELS LIKE IT'S 9. WE'LL HAVE
THE NORTH WINDS AT 10, GETTING
UP TO 15.
UP TO 15.
UP TO 15. NO PRECIP TODAY.
THAT'S DOWN TO THE SOUTH AND
EAST.
EAST.
EAST. WE'LL BE DEALING WITH LIGHT
SNOW AND GETTING OUT TOWARD PAL
STEIN AND NACOGDOCHES.
DIPPING INTO THE UPPER TEENS
ACROSS NORTH TEXAS THIS MORNING
AND THOSE WIND CH+@ILLS WILL BE
GENERALLY IN THE LOW TO MIDDLE
TEENS BUT SINGLE DIGITS I THINK
IN A FEW PLACES AS WELL.
WE'LL HAVE THE CLOUDY SKIES.
TEMPERATURES MIGHT NOT GET OUT
OF THE 20s.
COULD SEE A LITTLE SUNSHINE
BREAKING OUT.
BREAKING OUT. I THINK THAT CLEARING TREND
WILL CONTINUE AS WE HEAD INTO
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. WE'LL GET OVER TO TASHARA
CHECKING ON THE ROADS.
IT'S STILL A MESS.
>>> YES.
>>> YES.
>>> YES. THOSE COLD TEMPERATURES AREN'T
HELPING THE ROADS.
WHAT'S MELTING, IT'S
REFREEZING.
REFREEZING. THAT'S GIVI+@NG+@ PEOPLE A FALS
SENSE OF SECURITY.
D+@ALLAS I-30 EASTBOUND,
WESTBOUND AT LOOP 12, THIS IS+@
ONE OF THE AREAS I'VE
MENTIONED.
MENTIONED. THAT'S ON+@E AREA THAT TOUT TOU
RECEIVED NOTICES THAT IT WAS
SLICK.
SLICK.
SLICK. LANCASTER AND DESOTO AT
PLEASANT RUN.
PLEASANT RUN. THOSE ARE A FEW AREAS.
ACROSS THE METROPLEX I HAVE
SEEN ISSUES OVER IN TARRANT
COUNTY, SOUTHERN FORT WORTH.
I NOTICED THEY WERE DOING WORK
TRYING TO SAND.
I TALKED TO TXDOT AND THEY DID
CONFIRM THE FORT WORTH AREA
EAR+@LIER AND 635 AT MARSH LANE
THAT'S WHERE OUR NEWEST
INCIDENT S YOU SEE THE PICKUP
TRUCK SLID OFF AND HIT THE
MEDIAN.
MEDIAN.
MEDIAN. IT IS SCARY ON THE ROADWAYS.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S CLEAR.
CODY IS MAKING SURE THE REDS
ARE CLEAR.
ARE CLEAR. IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE +@OUT,
TAKE IT EASY AND STAY HOME.
KARA, OVER TO YOU
>>> THE LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO
COME ON FOR THOUSANDS W+@HO LOS
POWER.
POWER.
POWER. CLEO GREENE HAS BEEN ALL OVER
THE STORY THIS WEEK SINCE THE
ROTATING AND CONTROLLED POWER
OUTAGES BEGAN.
OUTAGES BEGAN. OKAY.
OKAY.
OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
IMPROVEMENT.
IMPROVEMENT. >> WE'RE LEARNING THAT MORE
POWER PLANTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
COME ONLINE.
COME ONLINE. TWO DAYS AGO MORE THAN 4
MILLION HOUS+@EHOLDS DID NOT HA
POWER.
POWER.
POWER. THE OUTAGE MAP IS A LITTLE OVER
630,000 STILL WITHOUT POWER.
REMEMBE+@R, THIS ENTIRE MAP +@N
TO BE COMPLET+@ELY IN BLUE.
YOU CAN SEE+@ SOME COUNTIES
STARTING TO CHANGE HERE WHEN IT
COMES TO THE OUTAGES AND HOW
IT'S CHANGING.
IT'S CHANGING. THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT ERCOT
CONTROLS, EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN
THE BLUE.
THE BLUE.
THE BLUE. EL PASO, SOME OF THOSE NORTHERN
RURAL COUNTIES, THEY ARE ON+@
THEIR OWN GRID.
LAWMAKERS ARE SUPER UPSET ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON
JUST LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY
HAPPENED.
HAPPENED.
HAPPENED. ERCOT OFFICIALS SAYING, LOOK, +@
THEY DID NOT WINTERIZE THEIR
GRID.
GRID.
GRID. THEIR WINTER INSP+@ECTION WAS
DONE VIRTUALLY.
DONE VIRTUALLY. SO THE+@RE'S +@A LOT OF QUESTIO
THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED.
WHEN WE LOOK AT CENTER POINT
ENERGY'S MAP THINGS ARE A LOT
BETTER.
BETTER.
BETTER. ABOUT 98% OF CUSTOMERS OUT IN
HOUSTON NOW HAVE THEIR POWER.
SO DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.
ONCOR, I'LL UP DATE.
150,000 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER
IN NORTH TEXAS.
SO THINGS ARE IMPROVING, MARC,
BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SITTING
IN THE DARK FOR DAYS NOW AND
COLD.
COLD.
COLD. >>>
COLD. >>> WHEN ARE THE WARMER
TEMPERATURES MAKING THEIR WAY
TO TEXAS.
TO TEXAS.
TO TEXAS. IT'S IN THE JUST THE POWER
ISSUES.
ISSUES.
ISSUES. I'M TALKING ABOUT FROZEN PIPES
BURSTING CAUSING A MESS LIKE
THIS ONE AT SANDY'S HOUSE.
I'M SO SORRY, SANDY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, SHED HER FAMILY
HAVE QUIT A MESS PLAYING OUT.
THIS IS THE SCENE IN COUNTLESS
HOMES.
HOMES.
HOMES. HERE'S HOPING YOU GUYS ARE ABLE
TO GET THAT MESS TAKEN CAR+@E O
AND STAY DRY.
WE GO LIVE TO HANNAH DAVIS THIS
MORNING.
MORNING.
MORNING. IT'S IN THE JUST THE BURSTING
PIPES.
PIPES.
PIPES. WHEN IT COMES TO WATER, MANY
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO BOIL IT
JUST TO MAKE THIS SAFE TO DRINK
>> Reporter: YES, BO+@IL IT EVE
IF THEY HAVE ACCESS AT ALL.
YOU FEEL SO BAD FOR TH+@ESE
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. I
PEOPLE. I WAS LISTENING TO THE
INTERVIEWS AND, REALLY, YOUR
HEART JUST SINKS FEEL SEWING
BADLY FOR THEM.
THE NUMBERS ARE SO HUGE.
WATER OFFICIALS FOR THE NORTH
TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
URGE ALL OF THEIR 1.8 MILLION
CUSTOMERS TO STOP NONESSENTIAL
WATER USE IMMEDIATELY, THIS TO
CONSERVE SUPPLY.
CONSERVE SUPPLY. IT'S SPANNING FROM+@ McKINNEY,
PARTS OF PLANO AND MORE.
THIS IS A BIG AREA.
NTMWD SAID DESAND OUTPACING
THEIR ABILITY TO FILL TANKS.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS, MEDICAL
FACILITIES AND BASIC HUMAN
+@ SANITATION NEEDS WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO BE MET IN THINGS GET
WORSE.
WORSE.
WORSE. WHAT'S CAUSING THIS?
IT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF
EXTREME COLD AND THE BREAKING
OF LINES AN+@D WATER ALL BRINGI
DOWN THE WATER PRESSURE.
OFFICI+@ALS SAID +@THEY HAVE TO
THAW OUT BEFORE THEY CAN WORK
PROPERLY AGAIN.
PROPERLY AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY HOPE TO HAVE
MOR+@E BACK UP AND RUNNING TODA
BUT THEY HAVE TO DO TESTS TO
MAKE SURE THE WATER IS SAFE.
SOME AREAS ARE AND A BOIL WATER
ADVISORY.
ADVISORY.
ADVISORY. SAGINAW, MESQUITE, LITTLE ELM.
WE HAVE THE FULL LIST AT
WFAA.COM.
WFAA.COM.
WFAA.COM. SIMILAR ISSUES WITH POWER
PLANTS LEAVING FAMILIES+@ TO
SEARCH FOR BOTTLED WATER OR
BOIL SNOW.
BOIL SNOW. THERE'S NO SPECIFIC TIMELINE ON
W+@HEN THI+@S SHOULD BE FIXED.
THEY SAID THEY HOPE TO SEE
IMPROVEMENTS TODAY BUT YOU HAVE
TO CHECK IN YOUR LOCAL
MUNICIPALITY.
MUNICIPALITY. THERE ARE FIVE LOCATIONS THAT
ARE HANDING OUT WATER.
WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT
WFAA.COM.
WFAA.COM.
WFAA.COM. SO YOU CAN GO THERE IF YOU DO
NEED HELP.
NEED HELP. >+@> LIKE THE GROCERY STORES,
MANY RUNNING OUT.
I WAS AT A KROGER IN FORT WORTH
AND THEY WERE LOW ON A LOT OF
THI+@NG+@S.
THI+@NG+@S. SO MANY QUESTIONS, NOT LOT OF
ANSWERS.
ANSWERS.
ANSWERS. AT 6:30 WE'LL BE TALKING TO
DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY
JENKINS AND WE'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT THE ONGOING +@WATER AND
POWER ISSUES+@.
POWER ISSUES+@. LET'S GO OVER TO TASHARA.
ON TUESDAY WE HAD THAT FRESH
SNOW ON THE GROUND.
IT WAS EASY TO NAVIGATE+@.
NOW IT'S THE ICE THAT MAKES IT
SO DIFFICULT NOW.
>>> RELATIVELY EASY.
THAT+@'S SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE.
ALL OF THAT MELTED AND IT
REFROZE AGAIN.
REFROZE AGAIN. I KIND OF+@ YELLED IT AT PEOPLE
ON MY TWITTER.
LISTEN, PLEASE STAY INDOORS IF
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET OUT ON
THE ROADS.
THE ROADS. I HAD A GENTLEMAN TWEET AT ME
EARLIER.
EARLIER.
EARLIER. HE SAID HE WAS ON+@ I-30 I+@
BELIEVE COMING FROM THE TARRANT
COUNTY AREA INTO +@DALLAS.
IT'S LIKE A SLIP AND SLIDE.
IT'S SLIPPERY.
IT'S SLIPPERY. I KNOW ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE
TO GET OUT, BUT KEEP THAT IN
MIND.
MIND.
MIND. ADDISON AND FRANKFOR+@D ROAD.
STONE HOLLOWAY, PEAR RIDGE
DRIVE.
DRIVE.
DRIVE. SO
DRIVE. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND IN THAT'S
PART OF YOUR ROUTE.
635 WESTBOUND AT MARSH LANE.+@
LOOKS LIKE THE WRECKER JUST GOT
OUT THERE.
OUT THERE. YOU SEE THAT PICKUP TRUCK MAYBE
SKID OFF THE ROAD.
I'M TELL+@ING YOU, THIS LOOKS
LI+@KE IT'S SAFE.
YOU'VE DID THE TO DRIVE TO THE
CONDITIONS OUT THERE, GUYS AND
THAT MEANS DRIVI+@NG+@ LOW THE
SPEED LIMI+@TS, SO REDUCE THAT
SPEED AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IF YO+
DO HAVE TO HEAD +@OUT.
OKAY.
OKAY.
OKAY. I
OKAY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE+@ TXDOT DALLA
ON THE PHONE.
GOOD MORNING, LEE SAX FIRST, I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FALSE
SENSE OF SECURITY.
WHAT TIPS DO YOU +@HAVE FOR THO
FOLKS WHO HAVE TO HEAD OUT?
>> OUR FIRST MESSAGE IS IF YOU
CAN STAY HOME TO PLEASE STAY
HOME.
HOME.
HOME. IT
HOME. IT IS THE SAFEST OPTION.
IF YO+@U DO HAVE TO TRAVEL, WE
ASK THAT YOU SLOW DOWN.
THIS WILL HELP, ESPECIALLY IN
THE ICY CONDITIONS.
ALSO, INCREASE THE SPACE
BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES
AND CHECK TXDOT BEFORE HEADING
OUT.
OUT.
OUT. >>
OUT. >> SO FOLKS CAN REPORT ISSUES
IF THEY SEE THEM OT THERE.
WE'RE SHOWING VIDEO OF HOW
THINGS WERE A DAY OR TWO.
RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T LOOK AS
+@
RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T LOOK AS +@BAD.
+@BAD.
+@BAD. THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE THE
SNOW.
SNOW.
SNOW. WE
SNOW. WE KNOW BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES
ARE PLACES PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID.
ANY OTHER PLACES THEY SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. +@
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU SEE OUR CREWS, GIVE THEM
TIME IT DO THEIR WORK.
IT'S A DANGEROUS JOB.
WE LIKE FOR THEM T+@O HAVE EXTR
ROOM ON THE BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES.
OVERPASSES. SO ON ALL OF THE ROADWAYS,
PLEASE REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND
ALLOW EXTRA SPACE BETWEEN YOU
AND THE OTHER DRIVERS.
>> LISA, THANK YOU FOR WAKING
UP WITH US.
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS
ARE DOIN+@G.
ARE DOIN+@G. >>> TIME NOW IS 6:12.
A LOT OF ESSENTIALS ARE IN
SHORT SUPPLY AND THAT INCLUDES
+@
SHORT SUPPLY AND THAT INCLUDES FOOD.
FOOD.
FOOD. WE'LL TELL YOU WHER+@E TO GET
+@
WE'LL TELL YOU WHER+@E TO GET HELP.
HELP.
HELP. >>>
HELP. >>> WE WAN+@T TO TELL YOU ABOUT
THE AUSTIN CENTER HOMELESS
SHELTER.
SHELTER.
SHELTER. THEY WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
THEY'RE COLLABORATING WITH
+@ OTHERS AND THE KAY BAILEY
HUTCHISON WARMING SHELTER.
WE HA+@VE A TEAM HAVE VOLUNTEER
TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS RIGHT
NOW. +@
NOW. +@
NOW. +@ LOOK HOW HAPPY AND AWAKE THEY
ARE.
ARE.
ARE. YOU
ARE. YOU CAN ALSO DONATE ONLINE.
HERE'S THE NUMBER.