Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Announces Department Closures On Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Due To Hard Freeze
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Announces Department Closures On Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Due To Hard Freeze
Harris County, TX, January 15, 2024 – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has announced the closure of all Harris County departments on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, in response to the winter weather and a continued hard freeze in the region. Unless they are supporting essential operations, all county facilities and offices are closed to the public tomorrow. This means jury service for tomorrow has been canceled.
This proactive measure prioritizes the safety and well-being of residents, employees, and the community amidst the weather conditions. The decision aligns with recommendations from local authorities and meteorological experts, who predict freezing cold temperatures and hazardous road conditions during the early morning hours.
Judge Lina Hidalgo issued the following statement:
“Thank you all for the continued collaboration as we get through this winter weather. We are actively monitoring the weather conditions, and the good news is, we are not expecting any additional precipitation, which means no additional water for ice to form. Our Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management team members are continuing to coordinate with first responders and will continue to support warming centers and various other emergency partners. Additionally, I had a productive conversation with Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles today and appreciate the consistent efforts across school districts to close tomorrow. Safety remains our top priority.
Recovery on icy roads is not expected until tomorrow afternoon, and we are still seeing quite a bit of ice on flyovers. However, our road crews are diligently working to apply materials to treat accessible roads. We strongly advise everyone to refrain from traveling on the roads today through tomorrow afternoon. If it is necessary for you to be on the roads, exercise extreme caution, and visit ReadyHarris.org for updates for the latest road condition maps and updates. Please also stay attuned to local media.”
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Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is Harris County’s chief executive and Director of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Judge Hidalgo, alongside four county precinct commissioners, oversees a budget of approximately $5 billion that funds services and institutions for the third-largest county in the nation, home to nearly 5 million people. For more information about Harris County and the Office of the County Judge, please visit: cjo.harriscountytx.gov.