As Amarillo and the surrounding Texas Panhandle region grapple with fierce winds, local officials have taken swift action to ensure resident safety, which has been highlighted by the opening of emergency shelters for those affected by power outages. CBS Austin reported Max Dunlap, Director of the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management, urged residents to avoid travel, stating, "If you do not have to be on the road, don't." He emphasized the importance of staying home and prioritizing safety over road use.
Due to extreme weather conditions the city's services, including trash collection and Amarillo Animal Welfare and Management operations, are on hold, with a focus instead on managing the current crisis and in line with the city's intention to provide safe havens for its citizens, facilities like the Warford Center have been converted into comfortable shelters equipped to provide warmth and power for charging devices from 6 p.m. through to 6 a.m. the following morning, this according to a statement obtained by ABC 7 Amarillo.
The emergency measures come after the city had braced itself for disruptive weather, spending several days crafting contingency "what if" scenarios to address various levels of potential damage, "When they send those early warnings out, we are starting to spin those plans of 'what if' scenarios. In this case, those 'what if' scenarios continue to grow," Dunlap told CBS Austin. Despite thorough preparations, the scale of power outages has surpassed expectations, prompting enhanced collaboration between the city and energy providers like Xcel Energy to expedite restoration efforts.
For residents seeking a tranquil space or access to resources during the day, Amarillo's library facilities remain open during their regular business hours, offering a respite from the chaotic stirrings of a city under the relentless grip of nature's force, and with the tumultuous winds persisting, the city's proactive stance aims to mitigate the impact while supporting those most in need during this trying period as they patiently await, along with aide workers, the time when it's safe to rebuild and restore what has been shaken.
