COA Crews Address Water Main Breaks, Streets, Unhoused Population and Animal Safety
The first significant cold spell and snowfall of the winter season had several City of Amarillo (COA) departments working around the clock to make sure the Amarillo community stayed safe and warm.
“This first weather event of the winter season mobilized city departments to respond to and address any issues that occurred due to the extreme cold and snow,” said COA Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper. “The city is constantly monitoring weather conditions and preparing in advance to protect the Amarillo community and keep city infrastructure operating as efficiently as possible no matter the weather conditions.”
Here is a breakdown of how several city departments responded to the recent weather event from January 23-January 26:
- COA Utilities Department: A total of 96 city employees responded to weather-related issues, including water main breaks and water operations. There were more than 30 water main breaks during this time span. (For comparison, there were only 10 water main breaks in the current fiscal year which began in October 2025.) City crews were “all hands-on-deck,” including staff from drainage utility, wastewater collection and the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). PARD crews helped clear city-owned parking lots of snow.
- COA Public Works Department: The COA Public Works Department (PWD) drove 8,885 miles of city streets for sanding and snow/ice control operations. Approximately 1,000 tons of sand/salt mixture was applied to city streets/roads. PWD had 80 personnel working during the winter event, with approximately 2,400 hours worked. In addition, the COA Solid Waste Department added additional waste collection for commercial customers in advance of the weather event.
- Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare (AAMW): AAMW had 12 officers responding to calls during this time span, including night shifts from 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. AAMW also had additional essential employees (seven animal care workers and three veterinary technicians) on site to provide food and water, deliver necessary medical care and confirm the shelter’s critical functions remained operational for animals. AAMW responded to 82 animal welfare calls. In total, AAMW responded to 188 calls during this time span.
- Helping the Unhoused: Various COA departments combined resources to help the unhoused population. COA Community Development had 11 staffers for winter response, Amarillo Public Health had two and the Environmental Health Department had three. Each city employee worked an average of more than 26 hours. City staff supported warming locations, including the Transformation Park Warming Center. City personnel were also in the field to locate and help individuals without shelter and to provide transportation to shelters. City personnel also staffed the Coming Home dispatch line to respond to calls for assistance. In one case, city staff repeatedly checked on an individual who declined shelter prior to the winter storm. As conditions worsened, the individual became less responsive. Staff coordinated emergency medical support. After receiving care, the individual agreed to come to the warming station and remained safely sheltered until conditions improved.
For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.