In the wake of the Tuesday storm, Garland's Building Department is taking an unusual weekend shift, opening its doors Saturday morning to help storm-struck residents navigate the calamity that rattled their homes and businesses. According to the City of Garland, the department will be active from 8 a.m. to noon on June 1, diligently processing permits and licenses for those faced with repairs in the storm's aftermath.
The department, situated on the first floor of the Ronald E. Jones Municipal Building at 800 Main St., is also collaborating with utility companies over the weekend, looking to hasten reconnections for residents left in the dark. In a city striving to piece itself back together, inspectors are working to facilitate this essential aid.
Disruption has led to an extension of hours for the Hinton Landfill, now open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, accommodating the increased debris and refuse born from the storm's rage. For those still languishing without power, Garland Power & Light reported that around 2,100 of their customers are navigating the outage, but 94 percent have had service restored since the incident. Oncor's similarly afflicted customers have seen significant restorations, with 1,172 still awaiting the return of their electric heartbeats as of late Friday.
Meanwhile, Garland's city libraries and recreation centers stand as beacons amidst the blackout, offering phone charging and air conditioning respite. Saturday schedules for these sanctuaries can be found in the City of Garland, from the North Garland Library at 3845 N. Garland Ave. to the splash pads that kids still enjoy at Embree and Watson parks, despite Lon Wynne Park’s being closed. Gatewood Pavilion and 111 Ranch Park will also remain closed for the weekend, pending further restoration and safety checks.
