CHILDRESS – Mayor Cary Preston today declared a local state of disaster in the City of Childress related to the boil water notice currently in effect.
Preston's declaration says the city has "suffered widespread or severe damage, injury, or threat of life or property (or there is imminent threat of the same) resulting from low disinfectant residuals.
City officials said earlier this week that the extreme heat and high ground temperatures have caused disinfectants in the city's water supply to evaporate, prompting the city to issue a boil water notice on Tuesday.
In a social media post, Preston said the declaration "opens the door to assistance from the State of Texas," and he also said Childress County was also issuing the same declaration.
Preston also sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott requesting "any available state assistance and resources necessary to address the ongoing water system emergency, including assistance with securing safe drinking water and supporting efforts to restore reliable access to safe drinking water."
The letter also requests assistance to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, drought and water system disruption.
Following guidelines from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Childress notified the public and all customers on Tuesday to boil their water prior to consumption. This includes cooking, ice making, washing hands and faces, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria. All customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The boil water notice has also affected many businesses in the community, particularly restaurants and convenience stores.
Preston's declaration is effective for seven days. The Childress City Council will meet in called session on Thursday, September 17, at noon in Fair Park Auditorium to discuss extending the declaration.
