Severe Winter Weather Alert

[WEDNESDAY 02.24.21 @ 3:30pm]

The City of Nassau Bay is asking that all water shut-off requests be coordinated through the Public Works Department. Plumbers are not authorized to turn the water off at the meter, which is City property. The City has received numerous calls on broken curb stops and water line leaks due to improper turnoffs. Please call Public Works at 281-333-2944 and the Department will send personnel to your home to assist with the water shutoff. Your cooperation is helpful as we assist our City in getting back to normal!

[WEDNESDAY 02.24.21 @ 12:30pm]

VEGETATION DEBRIS PICK UP: Ameriwaste will be picking up green waste curbside for the next few weeks but ask for patience in the process - as there is a lot of debris. Green waste will be picked up as long as it is in the following guidelines:

• Curbside for pick-ups
• No longer than 5ft in length
• No larger than 18 inches in Diameter
• Less than 50lbs
• Limit of 5 bundles & 10 bags
• No loose material.

[WEDNESDAY 02.24.21 @ 12:00pm] 

This letter (pdf) was emailed to Mr. Bill Magness, Chief Executive Officer of ERCOT, State Representative Dennis Paul, and State Senator Larry Taylor, urging for further examination of the policies and decisions that left Nassau Bay and the entire state vulnerable during last week’s extreme weather event.

Dear Mr. Magness, 

The City of Nassau Bay, along with other cities in our region, have worked around the clock to address our residents’ needs during last week’s winter storm emergency. Our infrastructure was challenged, damaged and unresponsive at the time of our highest need.

As a result, it has become painfully clear that our communities were made vulnerable by numerous decisions by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ leadership. ERCOT’s grid management protocols and policies during the cold weather did not seem to take into consideration exposure to sustained freezing temperatures. Additionally, how ERCOT chose to manage the grid during the extended cold weather led to unpredictable and inconsistent blackouts across Nassau Bay, contradicting the experience that our community was prepared to endure. At the same time, none of the information communicated by the agency aided our ability to prepare or support our residents, some of whom continued to experience multiple days without electricity. We are also concerned that the current fiscal models and business plans that ground ERCOT’s partnership with our utilities seems to prioritize revenue generation over other similarly important priorities.

We urge state leaders to thoroughly examine the policies and decisions that left our cities and the entire state vulnerable during last week’s extreme weather event. ERCOT’s processes and protocols need a full public airing as well as action from state leadership that will prevent this type of disaster in the future. Perhaps no one is better equipped to communicate the devasting impacts of the storm on Texans than those of us at local level, and we offer our cooperation and collaboration to find meaningful solutions. Our residents deserve answers – and they deserve reliable energy for their homes and businesses.

We are confident that you agree ERCOT’s deficiencies must be addressed, and we urge you to act as soon as possible. Texans are counting on their elected leadership to provide solutions.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Warters
Mayor

[SUNDAY 02.21.21 @ 4:30pm] Nassau Bay Alert: BOIL WATER NOTICE LIFTED: It is now safe to drink and consume the water. Run your faucets for at least 1 minute and dump ice from maker. 

CITY OF NASSAU BAY: BOIL WATER NOTICE LIFTED.

It is now safe to drink and consume the water. To be on the safe side, residents should run their water for at least one minute to bring clean water into the taps and dump the ice in the ice maker and have it make at least three batches before using the ice. 

The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. 

Water pressure, which was hit hard by last week's extremely cold temperatures, is back to normal and has been tested and ruled safe to drink

[SUNDAY 02.21.21 @ 3:30pm]

The City of Nassau Bay is aware that the City of Houston has lifted their boil water notice. We are reviewing are water samples and will inform our residents when the boil water notice is lifted.  Thank you for your patience.

[FRIDAY 02.19.21 @ 9:00am]

Nassau Bay City Manager Jason Reynolds provided a live update on the current status of the City.

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 6:00pm]

TONIGHT: Very cold temperatures are expected tonight with lows dropping into the teens to mid-20s. Don't forget the four P's! Protect your Pipes, People, Pets and Plants!

If you have a leak, please shut off your water immediately. Nassau Bay Public Works will assist you with a shutoff. During business hours (until 5:00pm), call (281) 333-2944 to request a water shutoff. After hours, call the 24-Hour Non-Emergency Dispatch line at 281.333.4200. They will contact the on-call Public Works personnel. 

A message from CenterPoint Energy: With a hard freeze warning in effect for this evening, keep the power flowing for our neighbors, Houston, by continuing to conserve electricity. Lower your thermostats, unplug appliances, turn off lights, and do not run dishwashers, washers, and dryers. Hang in there Nassau Bay! We will make it through this historic event together.

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 3:45pm]

Have you signed up for Swift911 Alerts? Nassau Bay's Emergency Alert system allows City Officials to quickly send alerts via phone, email, or text message directly to residents and businesses. These alerts help keep you informed and safe in the event of emergency situations, including: severe weather, road construction, water issues, etc. Nassau Bay has used Swift911 extensively during this severe winter weather event. To sign up for Swift911, please visit www.nassaubay.com/alerts.

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 12:45pm]

Nassau Bay City Manager Jason Reynolds gives a live update on the current status of the City.

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 12:30pm]

Due to the onset of Freezing temperatures in Nassau Bay and surrounding areas this evening, please be prepared to wrap your pipes and turn the water off on the house side and drain those pipes to avoid bursting pipes in your home. Do not run your water continuously as the pressure will drop city wide and then everyone will have a problem with bursting pipes. If you have water and power, fill your bathtubs with water to use for flushing toilets and make sure you have drinking water on hand. Stay warm, stay safe, stay aware and Be prepared. 

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 11:45am]

Stay tuned to the City's Facebook page for a LIVE update with City Manager Jason Reynolds at 12:45pm today. City Manager Reynolds will address the City's water concerns, power issues, gas shortages, home repairs, and more. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NassauBay. You do not need a Facebook account or need to sign in to view the City's livestream.

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 10:00am]

REMINDER: CONSERVE WATER NOTICE STILL IN EFFECT. Nassau Bay residents should immediately begin conserving water as much as possible. Water levels are now being impacted due to water leaks throughout the area. This is also having a dramatic impact on water pressure. 

• Do not run dishwashers.
• Do not use your garbage disposal. 
• Do not run washing machines.
• Limit showers and baths
• Flush the toilet less often.

We are now in critical water storage supply and need your help!

[THURSDAY 02.18.21 @ 8:00am]

REMINDER: BOIL WATER NOTICE STILL IN EFFECT. Water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil for 2 minutes. To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. 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. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the City of Nassau Bay will inform its customers. View the PDF version of the Boil Water Notice here (pdf). 

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 6:30pm]

CenterPoint Energy urges customers in Texas to conserve electricity and natural gas. An important need for the next six hours, until midnight.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has notified CenterPoint Energy of additional power generation capacity. As more power generation is available, the company is prepared to re-energize portions of the electric system that have been without power. During the service restoration process, CenterPoint Energy urges customers who have electric and/or natural gas service to immediately conserve electricity and natural gas over the next six hours, until midnight. 

 “This is an unprecedented situation for our communities in that the demand for electric and natural gas reached record levels simultaneously,” said Kenny Mercado, CenterPoint Energy’s Executive Vice President, Electric Utility. “We are ready to restore service to our customers. Introducing this demand too rapidly could result in additional service interruptions and safety risks for both electric and natural gas customers.” 

 “Let’s come together and help our neighbors who have been without power for an extended period of time,” said Scott Doyle, CenterPoint Energy’s Executive Vice President, Natural Gas Distribution. “This in an immediate call to action for our customers.”

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 5:30pm]

Nassau Bay City Manager Jason Reynolds gives a live update on the current status of the City.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 5:20pm]

Ameriwaste will have residential and commercial trash pickup Thursday, February 18th (TOMORROW) in Nassau Bay. Please have your trash ready by 7:00 am. Trash will need to be placed curbside, as there will not be back-door pickup. Please only place household trash on the curb, as Ameriwaste will not be accepting debris or recycling at this time.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 4:45pm]

Has your home suffered from damage as a result of this historic winter weather event? Please let the City of Nassau Bay know!  Report damages online at www.nassaubay.com/reportdamage. 

This form was created to assist the Nassau Bay Office of Emergency Management in determining what areas of our community experienced damage from winter Storm Uri. Additionally, it provides the City with vital information for Emergency Management planning purposes (i.e. debris removal if needed). Information may also be given to the State for the ERCOT Investigation Committee. 

The City will also be waiving permit fees for all water line repairs needed due to this storm - these are repairs on a water line between the meter and the home. Normal water line repairs in a home do not require a permit unless it is a major repair. By completing this form, residents will also be notifying the City's Building Department, which will use this information to waive the permit requirements. 

Please DO NOT use this form to request direct assistance or disaster relief. As always, call 911 for emergency assistance.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 3:45pm]

ASK THE CITY MANAGER! City Manager Jason Reynolds will go LIVE on Facebook today at 5:30pm to provide an update on the City and to answer some commonly asked questions from our residents. What questions do you want to have answered? What do you want to hear more about? Submit your questions to sandra.ham@nassaubay.com and tune in at 5:30pm to hear this important update from City Manager Reynolds. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NassauBay. You do not need a Facebook account or need to sign in to view the City's livestream.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 12:45pm]

CONSERVE WATER NOTICE: Nassau Bay residents should immediately begin conserving water as much as possible. Water levels are now being impacted due to water leaks throughout the area. This is also having a dramatic impact on water pressure. We are now in critical water storage supply and need your help!

• Do not run dishwashers.
• Do not use your garbage disposal. 
• Do not run washing machines.
• Limit showers and baths
• Flush the toilet less often.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 11:30am] 

The City of Nassau Bay issued a Boil Water Notice for the City on February 17th at 9:00am. What should customers on a Boil Water Notice do?

Water for drinking or other human consumption should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. Tips for boiling water:

• Fill a pot with water.
• Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
• Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for 2 minutes.
• Turn off the heat source and let the water cool
• Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Suggestions for different types of water use:

• Preparing and cooking food
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled or with bottled water.
  • Bring water to a rolling boil for 2 minutes before adding food to cook.
  • Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade
  • Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.
• Feeding babies and using formula
  • Use ready-to-use baby formula, if possible.
  • Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water. Disinfect water for baby formula if you cannot boil your water.
  • Wash and sterilize bottles and nipples before use.
  • If you cannot sterilize bottles, try to use single-serve, ready-to-feed bottles.
• Ice making
  • Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers.
  • Throw out all ice made with tap water.
  • Make new ice with boiled or bottled water.
• Bathing and showering
  • Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
  • Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
• Brushing teeth
  • Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.
• Washing dishes
  • Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
  • To wash dishes by hand:
    • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
    • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
    • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
    • Let the dishes air dry completely.
• Laundry
  • It is safe to do laundry as usual.
• Pets
  • Pets can get some of the same diseases as people. It is a good idea to give them boiled water that has been cooled too.
• Water filters
  • Boil tap water even if it is filtered. Most kitchen and other household water filters typically do not remove bacteria or viruses.

[WEDNESDAY 02.17.21 @ 9:30am]

Boil Water Notice for the City of Nassau Bay  |  Public Water System ID # TX1010152  |  February 17, 2021

Due to the Water Distribution System pressure below 20 psi, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Nassau Bay public water system # TX101015 to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions). 

To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. 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. 

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. 

Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice. 

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. 

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Paul A Lopez, Director of Public Works at 281-333-2944 or by email at paul.lopez@nassaubay.com or Water / Waste Water Utility Manager Chris Defrancis at chris.defrancis@nassaubay.com. Customers may obtain a copy of the “Boil Water Notice” on the City of Nassau Bay Website. 

The City of Nassau Bay and its supplier are actively working to bring the water distribution pressure back to normal levels. As we currently do not have an estimated time and pressures are restored, recommend having two (2) gallons of potable water for every member of your household for a 72-hour period. You can do this by collecting water dripping from your faucets to prevent freezing, or as long as you have water service.

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 8:30pm]  

Thank you to our residents for your patience as the City has endured the severe winter weather conditions of Winter Storm Uri. 

The City of Nassau Bay can now report the wastewater plant is operational to handle normal sanitary sewer flows at this time. Residents can now resume normal water usage, including showers, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines. This also includes our hospital, apartment complexes, and commercial areas. Previous water restrictions are now lifted. 

As a reminder, the City still encourages residents to be careful when traveling in and around the region, while the area continues to deal with this historic weather event. Patches of ice still cover some roads. Avoid freeways and drive as you would in a school zone – slowly while watching for ice, pedestrians, and other motorists. Remember, hundreds of traffic signals are out across Harris County. Treat every intersection like a 4-way-stop.

Temperatures are unlikely to move above freezing for more than a few hours until Wednesday. Freezing rain and ice will also return overnight in much of the county. Only call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Call centers are overrun with calls about loss of power and broken pipes. They cannot assist with these issues.

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 4:00pm]

City Hall will be open tomorrow, Wednesdsay, February, 17th at 10:00am for normal business. 

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 2:45pm] 

Life-threatening cold weather conditions continue in Harris County. Temperatures are unlikely to move above freezing for more than a few hours until Wednesday. Freezing rain and ice will also return overnight in much of the county.

Plan to arrive at the location where you intend to spend the night no later than 5:00 p.m. today. STAY OFF THE ROADS AFTER SUNSET. 

Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution if driving. Patches of ice still cover some roads. Avoid freeways and drive as you would in a school zone – slowly while watching for ice, pedestrians, and other motorists. Remember, hundreds of traffic signals are out across Harris County. Treat every intersection like a 4-way-stop. 

• Electric power will continue to be an issue for some residents into Wednesday or even later. 
• Extinguish fireplace before going to bed 
• If you have power, conserve! Run your thermostat lower than 68 degrees.
• Continue to stay at home – even if you do not have power. You are safer where you are!
• Road conditions will remain hazardous and all travel should be avoided.
• Residents should closely monitor media and the National Weather Service for updates to the forecast. 
• Text FREEZE to 888777 for winter storm updates from ReadyHarris

Do not use generators, gas ovens and stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources inside your home. In addition, never go to bed leaving a fireplace burning. Carbon monoxide gas will build up indoors and can kill! Place generators in an adequately ventilated, outdoor space. If using your car to charge electronic devices, make sure your car is outdoors and not in your garage.

 
Finally, only call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Call centers are overrun with calls about loss of power and broken pipes. They cannot assist with these issues.

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 10:30am] 

The City has received many calls about homes without water. Nassau Bay has not cut water for any homes. We have only cut water for homes with a water break. At the time, we have four confirmed breaks within the City, despite the numerous homes calling without water. These are the four confirmed homes with pipe breaks:

• 18000 Block of Bal Harbour
• 1300 Block of Antigua
• 2000 Block of Sea Cove
• 1900 Block of Port Royal

Electricity is still out from Surf Ct East (including the Hilton), along Nassau Bay Dr, and a portion of Saxony. The Public Works Department is setting up a bypass to the Sandy Cove lift station and the City is currently looking for a solution for the Surf Court lift station. 

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 8:15am] 

The City was informed by CenterPoint Energy that the outages in Nassau Bay were done by the direction of ERCOT and there is no timeline to restore power. 

[TUESDAY 02.16.21 @ 8:00am] 

Due to power outages in the City, sewer lift stations are being impacted. The Public Works Department has been working overnight to fix the issue. Please continue to not flush your toilets, do laundry, and delay showering until further notice. We appreciate your participation and apologize for the inconvenience. 

[MONDAY 02.15.21 @ 7:30pm] 

Due to power outages in the City, the sewer lift stations are experiencing problems. Please limit flushing toilets, showering, or doing laundry.

[MONDAY 02.15.21 @ 5:30pm] 

For the safety of our employees, City Administrative offices will remain closed tomorrow. We will open on Wednesday, February 17th.

[MONDAY 02.15.21 @ 3:00pm]

If you have power outage issues, or questions about potential rolling blackouts, please call Centerpoint at 713-207-2222 instead of 911, or visit CenterPoint website at www.centerpointenergy.com.  The dispatch center and 911 do not have information or control regarding the power services in the area.

[SUNDAY 02.14.21 @ 7:15pm] 

The City of Nassau Bay is monitoring the weather forecast for the next few days, which includes freezing temperatures, single-digit wind chill, freezing rain, and even the chance of snow. Monday and Tuesday are the most likely days we could see a hard freeze and icy conditions in our area. City staff members are preparing our City facilities for the arctic blast, and we are also asking assistance from our residents to keep our families, vehicles, and homes safe and free of damage.

In an abundance of caution to protect our employees, the plan is for City Hall to remain closed until 12:00pm on Tuesday, February 16th. Ameriwaste will NOT be picking up trash on Monday, February 15th.  

The Emergency Operations Center and Public Safety are monitoring the situation and are ready to respond. 

Power Outages 

CenterPoint Energy may experience short power outages throughout the storm to help control the power grid. To report a power outage, please contact CenterPoint Energy at 1-800-332-7143. You can view a power outage tracker at CenterPoint Outage Tracker. 

Roadways:

• During a freezing rain event, residents are asked to stay off all roadways. If you must drive, drop below the speed limit, keep three times the typical distance away from another vehicle, and be cautious on overpasses, ramps, and bridges. If your vehicle begins to slide, TxDOT recommends easing off the gas pedal or brakes and steering into the direction of the skid until you regain control. 
• A good way to determine what roads are impacted is the website www.drivetexas.org.
• Colder temperatures can affect your vehicle’s tire pressure. For every 10 degrees of temperature drop, tires can drop one to two pounds of pressure. Be sure to check the pressure and add air when needed.

To keep ice from forming on local streets, citizens are asked to turn off their automated sprinklers and drain the backflow device. This includes businesses, homeowner associations, and residential homes.

Water: 

• Drain and wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home.
• Remove garden hoses from outside faucets and insulate faucets with a foam cover, rags, towels, or duct tape.
• Know where your home shut-off/isolation valve is located and how to use it. The valve is usually located adjacent to the water meter and near the first spigot, usually on the side of the home or near the garage. 
• Drain the back-flow device of your automated sprinkler system. 

Do a controlled drip from internal household plumbing fixtures to reduce the risk of pipes freezing and a very slow drip on outside faucets.  This is not necessary unless temperatures are 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours. Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.

Fire:

The Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department wants to remind residents of the dangers of space heaters.

• Don’t operate too close to a combustible material. Heaters need three feet of space around them while in use.
• Don’t leave unattended.
• Use the right size. You should have 10 watts of power for every square foot of area. 
• Don’t run non-stop. You could overheat the wiring or circuit.
• Don’t ignore bad, broken, or frayed cords.
• Don’t place the heater near where pets and people walk.

Gas heaters can produce dangerous or deadly carbon monoxide. Take appropriate precautions.

Pets:

The City of Nassau Bay is advising residents to bring all pets indoors during the upcoming cold weather. If pets must remain outdoors, they should be provided with some sort of covered shelter and numerous blankets. 

Please STAY SAFE!

[SUNDAY 02.14.21 @ 6:30pm]

Mayor Bob Warters signs Declaration of Distaster for Historic Winter Storm: Mayor Warters has signed a local disaster declaration to assist the City of Nassau Bay with mitigating and recovering from Winter Storm Uri. Disaster declarations are designed to assist with emergency service reimbursements for funds expensed on storm preparations and recovery. 

[SUNDAY 02.14.21 @ 5:20pm]

 Visit www.houstontranstar.org and drivetexas.org for road information around the Houston area.

[FRIDAY 02.12.21 @ 12:15pm]

President's Day // Severe Weather (02/12/2021). In observance of President's Day, the City of Nassau Bay will be closed on Monday, February 15th. City Administrative Offices will be closed until 12:00pm on Tuesday, February 16th due to weather concerns. 

The Emergency Operations Team, Police Department, Fire/EMS, and Public Works are standing by and ready to respond. 

Nassau Bay urges all to be extra careful this weekend. Please pay extra attention when driving on an overpass and over bridges. Stay up-to-date with the latest weather reports and road conditions, as very cold air, along with chances for precipitation are expected into next week. Dangerous wind chills, rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet are all possible over the weekend. 

Due to weather concerns and in an abundance of caution, Ameriwaste will NOT have scheduled residential services (trash) on Monday, February 15th.

Remember, stay prepared and remember the 4 Ps - Protect your: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants! Check on family and friends. Keep pets inside. Cover plants. Cover exposed pipes.

Continue to monitor the City's Facebook page and other resources such as the Texas Department of Transportation, US National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas, ReadyHarris, and local news channel i45NOW.