The Woodlands Township shared the following COVID-19 Updates on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Township News

The Woodlands Township Experiences Widespread Power Outage
Most all residences and businesses in the Montgomery County portion of The Woodlands were without electricity as part of rolling power outages today throughout Southeast Texas.

According to Entergy, the electricity provider for the Town Center and villages of Alden Bridge, Cochran’s Crossing, College Park, Grogan’s Mill, Indian Springs, and Panther Creek, the company said it is taking the action to avoid a more extensive, prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid. The Village of Creekside Park, which is served by Centerpoint Energy, was not affected.

Entergy is not currently able to provide a time frame when they expect to restore power to 100 percent capacity.

“The Woodlands Township is in contact with Entergy and has requested advance notice or a schedule for potential rolling blackouts,” said Township Chairman Gordy Bunch. “We will communicate if those can be produced.”

Street lights may lose power. Be careful, remember intersections without functioning lights are treated as a four-way stop. Law Enforcement and generators are being deployed to assist with intersection management. View the complete release.

For the latest updates regarding the power outage, please visit the Entergy website at www.entergy-texas.com and sign up for their alerts.
Entergy Outage Map

Water in The Woodlands is Safe to Drink
The Woodlands Water Agency states that the household water system of The Woodlands Water Agency is equipped with backup generators. Even without power, the water delivery system remains operational in most circumstances. The water is safe to use and drink. Please note, the phone system at The Woodlands Water Agency is not operational. Customers with urgent water service issues are asked to contact the answering service, which is being monitored, at 281-537-4376. Please visit their website for more information at www.woodlandswater.org.

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Chairman Bunch Urges Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Season
Now is the time to be preparing for future storms by putting together your hurricane preparedness items and register with the Township to receive alerts in regarding the storm impacts in The Woodlands. View the video here.

Township Held Regular Board of Directors Meeting 
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors held a Regular Board Meeting via videoconference Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 6 p.m. to discuss Township matters. Prior to addressing agenda items, the Board of Directors issued a proclamation in recognition of retiring President/General Manager, Don. T Norrell. The Township recognizes, honors and thanks Don T. Norrell for his service to The Woodlands. The Board of Directors approved a Park Use Agreement, revision to the Personnel Policy Manual, purchases of equipment related to COVID-19 response and accepted an update from the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). Read the complete release.

Stay Informed with The Woodlands Township
You can sign up for news and alerts from the Township at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme. Additional information can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/emergency. Be sure to stay tuned to your favorite television or online news outlet to keep up with the weather. View latest information from the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management or Harris County at www.readyharris.org.

Prepare for Hurricane Season

• Understand that planning may be different this year because of COVID-19.
• Give yourself more time than usual to prepare your emergency food, water, and medicine supplies. Home delivery is the safest choice for buying disaster supplies. If in-person shopping is your only choice, take steps to protect your and others’ health when running essential errands.
• Be safe when filling prescriptions by limiting in-person visits to the pharmacy. Sign up for mail order delivery, call in your prescription ahead of time and use drive-through windows or curbside pickup. Order a 60- or 90-day supply to have on hand.
• Pay attention to local guidance for evacuations and shelters, including potential shelters for your pets.
• If you need to evacuate, prepare a “go kit” with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. Include items that protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer, bar or liquid soap if not available, and two cloth face coverings per person. Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of two, be used by people having trouble breathing, or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• When you check on neighbors and friends, be sure to follow social distancing recommendations (staying at least 6 feet, about 2 arms’ length, from others) and other CDC recommendations.
• If you need to go to a disaster shelter, follow CDC recommendations for staying safe and healthy in a public disaster shelter during COVID-19.

Entergy Storm-Restoration Process
Entergy is taking the steps to ensure they are ready to quickly begin restoration as a result of Hurricane Laura. Learn more about the restoration process.

Staying informed before, during and after a tropical system strikes is just as important as making personal storm plans. Here’s how customers can stay updated throughout the event:

• Download the Entergy App at entergyapp.com. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business.
• Entergy’s View Outages website includes maps that show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress.
• Sign up for text alerts by texting REG to 36778 and have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code). Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage. You can also report an outage online as a guest.
• The Entergy Storm Center website has storm safety, preparation and restoration information that is updated throughout the day.
• Operation: Storm Ready Guide is a free downloadable guide that helps customers plan and prepare for weather emergencies.

The Woodlands Express and Town Center Trolleys Suspended Due to Weather
In light of the Hurricane Laura, both the Town Center Trolleys and The Woodlands Express Park and Ride service are cancelled today, Thursday, August 27, 2020, and will resume service tomorrow, Friday, August 28, 2020. Please follow updates on Twitter @TownshipTransit.

Waterway Nights Concert Cancelled
Due to Hurricane Laura, the August 27, 2020, Waterway Nights concert has been cancelled.

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County News

Montgomery County COVID-19 Case Count
Due to Hurricane Laura, the offices of Montgomery County Public Health District (MCPHD) and Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) will be closed today, August 27, 2020, therefore, there will be no COVID-19 update. They plan to continue providing COVID-19 updates tomorrow, Friday, August 28, 2020.
Take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

• Consider staying home unless it is necessary to leave your home.
• Avoid groups of people.
• Practice social distancing.
• Wear a mask (if it is necessary to leave your home).
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
• Disinfect surfaces in your car and around your home.

Have questions? Please go to https://mcphd-tx.org/ and scroll down to the FAQs. Find more information on the SETRAC website, setrac.org. View the list of case-by-case updates on the MCPHD website here: https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/. Refer to the dashboard here: https://coronavirus-response-moco.hub.arcgis.com/.

Harris County COVID-19 Case Count
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) publishes their daily case count, combined with the City of Houston’s daily case count, here. Cases by zip code in Harris County can be found by clicking on areas of the map.
 
The Village of Creekside Park is located in two zip codes: 77375 and 77389, and these also include Magnolia, Augusta Pines/Auburn Lakes/West Rayford Road in northwest Harris County. Today, Harris County is reporting zip code 77375 has 759 confirmed positive cases with 127 active cases, and 77389 has 368 confirmed positive cases with 35 active cases.

Get Tested for COVID-19
Free COVID-19 testing is available for residents of Montgomery County online at https://www.mchd-tx.org. Call 936-523-3916 for more information.

Harris County residents may also sign up for free COVID-19 testing online at hcphtx.org. Call 832-927-7575 for more information.

Genalyte Expands COVID-19 Antibody Testing in The Woodlands
Genalyte announced the opening of a new COVID-19 antibody testing site at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, Texas, 77380)

Genalyte’s SARS-CoV-2 MultiAntigen Serology Panel, which tests for antibodies the body can produce in response to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), offers appointments available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Monday, August 31, 2020. Register today.

State News

Mask Orders: State of Texas and Montgomery and Harris Counties
The State of Texas requires all individuals over the age of 10 to wear a face covering (over the nose and mouth) wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another individual not in the same household. Read the full executive order.

Harris County directs any businesses providing goods or services to require all employees and visitors to wear face coverings in areas of close proximity to co-workers or the public. Everyone over the age of 10 must wear a face covering while in businesses or on commercial properties. Businesses that fail to comply could be fined up to $1,000. This order is in effect until August 26, 2020.

Montgomery County does not have a mask mandate for businesses, however many businesses request or require the wearing of masks.

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Around the Township

Hurricane Laura Evacuation and Lodging Information
With the effects of Hurricane Laura to the Texas Gulf Coast and Southwest Louisiana, The Woodlands area has seen an increase in hotel activity due to its proximity to Houston and the evacuation route of I-45.

If you are in need of shelter as a result of the storm, The Woodlands currently has hotel availability (as of 4 p.m. Thursday, August 27, 2020) with many properties accepting pets. All hotels in The Woodlands are prepared for evacuees and will continue to follow the strongest COVID-19 related health and safety procedures. For hotel bookings and more information visit, www.visitthewoodlands.com/hotels. 

Community Resources

Numerous resources are available in the community for support. These vary from food banks to financial assistance and much more. Please visit the Community Resources webpage to find more information about resources in the community related to COVID-19.

Clear the Shelters – Gain a Best Friend
Clear the Shelters is a month-long event taking place from August 1 through August 31, 2020. All pet adoption fees have been waived. Sponsors include: WeRescue, 24Pet Watch, and greatergood.org. Please visit ClearTheShelters.com for more information.

Adoptions are by appointment only to maintain social distances. To adopt an animal, please visit the Montgomery County Animal Services webpage to schedule a time. View Adoptable Dogs | View Adoptable Cats

Township’s Coronavirus Page
The Woodlands Township’s COVID-19 page can be found at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/covid19. This page features Montgomery and Harris county hubs, community resources and news from the Federal Government and the CDC. It also includes the latest news from the Township, partner agencies, important links, FAQs, live Twitter feeds and more.

Source: The Woodlands Township

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