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Friday
3 p.m.
The Smith County Emergency Operations Center is closing its emergency shelter at Bullard Intermediate School at 4 p.m. Friday.
For anyone in the community seeking shelter or needing assistance, please call 1-800-REDCROSS and choose Option 4 for assistance.
1:20 p.m.
The Smith County Emergency Operations Center is closing the Smith County POD distribution center now at Chapel Hill High School because they are running out of commodities. The Lindale center is still open and plans to close at 3 today.
The Lindale center is located at First Baptist Church, located at 103 E. Van Street in Lindale.
The Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Military Department are running the drive-thru sites and are distributing MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat), ice, water and tarps.
Smith County roads
Smith County has only a handful of roads closed from storm damages, as flooded roads have receded as of Friday morning.
The Smith County Road and Bridge Department has been working around the clock for the past two weeks, clearing more than a hundred county roads that had trees down from the recent severe weather.
CR 452 had been closed this week because of flooding but is now open to drivers.
County Roads 429, 1303 and 2133 still have trees down with powerlines in them so they will remain closed until Oncor can safely remove the power lines.
Some county roads had wash outs or undermined culverts from the storms and those will remain barricaded and closed until repairs can be made. They include CR 381, 498, 2110, and 3203. Do not drive around barricaded roads.
Smith County has an interactive map that lists all Smith County road closures. You can find up-to-date road closures by visiting www.smith-county.com and clicking on “County Road and Office Closures” under Citizen Resources.
Saw crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System are continuing to help the City of Tyler and Smith County to clear trees from roadways. Smith County had more than 300 trees down on 100 county roads from Monday night’s storm, but nearly all Smith County roads were cleared enough to be drivable by Thursday afternoon.
Smith County has an interactive map that lists all Smith County road closures. You can find up-to-date road closures by visiting www.smith-county.com and clicking on “County Road and Office Closures” under Citizen Resources.
Power outages
Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported that an estimated 1,452 people remained without power in Smith County as of 8:30 a.m. Friday. Southern Utilities customers in Smith County Cherokee County remain under a boil water notice.
As of noon, 1,262 remain without power in Smith County. Full restoration is expected by Sunday.View the latest Oncor outage map hereandcheck the status of your outage here.
Amended disaster declaration
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued an Amended Disaster Declaration on Thursday, June 6, 2024, to encompass damages from all severe weather during the last two weeks throughout all of Smith County.
Beginning May 23, the entire county has been hit hard by several storms, including severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, excessive rainfall and/or tornadic activity. These storms resulted in widespread and severe damages, injuries and/or loss of life or property.
Declaring a disaster allows officials and emergency management personnel to access additional resources to support operational needs, as well as allowing for additional resources to be made available to citizens.
A Disaster Declaration can also aid Smith County Emergency Management in helping get resources for residents who need it. That is why Smith County is asking anyone who suffered property damages from any of these storms to report them here: https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/
Cooling and charging centers in Tyler
- Tyler Public Library is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tyler Senior Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Glass Recreation Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other assistance
- Grace Community Church - Contact (903) 593-3800.
- Tyler’s Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints - Contact (903) 871-5117
- Church of the Pines - Contact (903) 224-8595
- Green Acres Baptist Church - Contact (903) 646-7610
- American Red Cross - Contact (800) 733-2767.
- Central Baptist Church - Contact (903) 561-6361
- East Texas Food Bank: Mobile pantriesin: Mineola, Jacksonville, Henderson, Daingerfield,Tyler, Longview, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Gilmer, Frankston, Malakoff, Linden, Seven Points, Athens, Gladewater, Nacogdoches, Texarkana, Palestine, and Grand Saline.
Thursday
4:15 p.m.
Teams of Oncor employees and utility contractors are continuing to work around the clock to remove debris, rebuild and replace damaged electrical equipment and restore power to East Texas customers following Monday’s severe storm.
The restoration will take multiple days and customers should have a plan in place for the multi-day outage. If Oncor's website says your power has been restored, please be sure to report it again. To report a power outage or check the status, text OUT to 66267, click here to go to their website to report the outage, use the MyOncor app, click “Report an Outage” on the map, or call 888-313-4747. You can check the status of your outage here.
The following Oncor outages are active in East Texas:
Smith:5,371
Henderson:173
Cherokee:8
Van Zandt:43
View the latest Oncor outage map here.
All providers are facing a substantial workload of repairs and restoration efforts.View more outages across East Texas from all providers here.
Available resources
Two PODs (Point of Distribution) centers are open until 7 p.m. Thursday in Lindale and Chapel Hill. The centers will open Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smith County residents who are suffering from power outages and/or property damage can go to Chapel Hill High School, located at 13172 Texas Highway 64 East, Tyler. Right now, the Chapel Hill site is distributing MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat), ice, water and tarps.
At the First Baptist Church, located at 103 E. Van Street in Lindale, they are also distributing ice, water, tarps and MREs.
The Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Military Department are running the drive-thru sites and are distributing MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat), ice, water and tarps.
Both sites were continuing to see a steady stream of cars throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The Smith County Emergency Management Operations Center plans to close both PODS on Friday at 3 p.m.
Bullard Intermediate School, located at 218 School House Road, is open for those who need a place to go.
Red Cross is running the facility and Smith County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is assisting, in coordination with Bullard Independent School District.
For anyone in the community seeking shelter or needing assistance please call 1-800-REDCROSS and choose Option 4 for assistance.
On Thursday, all of the Smith County Justice of the Peace and Constables Offices in Lindale, Winona and Troup reopened after their power, phones and internet systems were restored.
Cooling and charging centers in Tyler
- Tyler Public Library is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tyler Senior Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Glass Recreation Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other assistance
- Grace Community Church - Contact (903) 593-3800.
- Tyler’s Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints - Contact (903) 871-5117
- Church of the Pines - Contact (903) 224-8595
- Green Acres Baptist Church - Contact (903) 646-7610
- American Red Cross - Contact (800) 733-2767.
Cleanup continues
Saw crews from the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System are continuing to help the City of Tyler and Smith County to clear trees from roadways. He reported that out of the more than 300 trees down on 100 county roads from Monday night’s storm, nearly all Smith County roads were cleared enough to be drivable by Thursday afternoon.
County Roads 1303 and 2205 still have trees down with powerlines in them so they remain closed until Oncor can safely remove the power lines.
Some county roads had wash outs or undermined culverts from the storms and those remain barricaded and closed. They include CR 381, 429, 452, 2110, and 3203. Do not drive around barricaded roads.
Smith County has an interactive map that lists all Smith County road closures. You can find up-to-date road closures by visiting www.smith-county.com and clicking on “County Road and Office Closures” under Citizen Resources.
In the city of Tyler, Emergency Operation Center is fully activated, and crews are working to assess damage, clear roadways, and repair traffic signals affected by the recent severe thunderstorms that moved through the area earlier this week. Residents should remain cautious and aware of downed trees and power lines.
Tyler/Smith County's Heat Response Plan is now available onHeat Response Plan |Tyler, TX (cityoftyler.org)
Traffic signals
All are operational as of Thursday, the city said.
Tyler city roadways
The City Streets Department is continuing to assess damage and clear roadways. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, 26 streets are closed and 206 work orders remain for downed trees and limbs.
Volunteer organizations active during disasters are encouraged to assist in clearing trees and debris on private property. If power lines are involved do not attempt to move the lines or trees. Contact the Tyler Police Department non-emergency number at (903) 531-1000.
Residents can report flooded streets, potholes, sinkholes, downed trees, stormwater issues, and drainage issues using the free "MyTyler" phone App or by calling the Streets Department at (903) 531-1393 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and the Tyler Police Department non-emergency number at (903) 531-1000 during non-business hours.
Report downed power lines to the Tyler Police Department at the non-emergency number (903) 531-1000.
Tyler utilities
All essential City Services, including water and wastewater services, will continue to operate at full capacity.
Contact Oncor at 1-888-313-4747 to report power outages. Oncor is reporting 5,300 customers remain without power in Smith County as of 3 p.m. and estimates power will be fully restored by Sunday.
Lake Tyler
Boat ramps at Lake Tyler are closed. The roads around the lake are now open.
Solid waste - Tyler
Residential and recycling collection resumed on Thursday, June 6. We ask that customers remain patient during trash pick-up. Crews may be unable to collect some customers' trash because the roads are inaccessible due to downed trees, power lines, and debris.
For a $15 access fee, Solid Waste customers with a current water bill can take large limbs and brush to the Greenwood Farms Landfill at 12920 Farm to Market Road 2767. The landfill is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to noon.
Starting next week, residents will be able to schedule special pick-ups with Solid Waste by submitting a work order online through Bulky Items and Special Pick-Ups | Tyler, TX (cityoftyler.org). Bundle the limbs that are less than four feet and 50 pounds together, and they will be picked up free of charge. Anything larger will have to pay a fee depending on size and weight, starting at $20.
Parks
Clean-up has begun for parks. The city urges everyone to avoid all parks and trails until all damage has been cleared.
Multimedia
PHOTOS: Storm damage in Tyler area
- Photos by Jennifer Scott and Contributed
Multimedia
PHOTOS: Storm damage in Tyler area
- Photos by Jennifer Scott and Contributed
Internet
As of 11 a.m., Optimum is reporting 24,000 customers without service. Optimum has dispatched its emergency response trailer to downtown. This trailer will provide a 1G wireless internet connection for anyone who needs access. It will remain in place until the city is fully operational again.
Report damage
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued an amended disaster declaration on Thursday to encompass damages from all severe weather during the last two weeks throughout all of Smith County.
Beginning May 23, the entire county has been hit hard by several storms, including severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, excessive rainfall and/or tornadic activity. These storms resulted in widespread and severe damages, injuries and/or loss of life or property.
Declaring a disaster allows officials and emergency management personnel to access additional resources to support operational needs, as well as allowing for additional resources to be made available to citizens.
A disaster declaration can also aid Smith County Emergency Management in helping get resources for residents who need it. That is why Smith County is asking anyone who suffered property damages from any of these storms to report them here: https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/
iSTAT reports could release funding from the Federal Emergency Management System (FEMA) directly to residents.
For instructions on correctly reporting damages, listen to theiSTAT How-To Video Guide.
Boil notice for some residents
A boil water notice issued Tuesday remains in effect for Southern Utilities Company customers in Smith and Cherokee counties.
About 60,000 people are affected, Smith County reported. This is just for Southern Utilities customers, not Tyler Water Utilities or City of Whitehouse or any other local entity.
“Due the recent thunderstorms and power outages in the area, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Southern Utilities Company public water system... to notify all customers ... of the Southern Utilities public water system 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),” the press release stated.
To ensure 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.
City of Whitehouse update
Tuesday morning, emergency personnel and city crews are continuing to conduct rapid damage assessments through the city's hardest hit neighborhoods.
The city encourages residents to use local, reputable companies for any repairs or tree removal.
Brush and limbs: The city has been in close contact with Republic Services who will be picking up additional brush and limbs along their normal routes. Any limbs must be four foot or less in length and no more than six inches in diameter. Residents of Whitehouse can utilize the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free once a month by showing a copy of their most recent City of Whitehouse water bill.
Oncor is working diligently to get power restored as quickly and safely as possible. If you see that properties around you have power restored and you do not, please contact your service provider to make sure they are aware that your service has not been restored.
Be sure to sign up for CodeRed alerts which allows you to receive notifications via phone call or text message about emergency situations or critical community alerts.Click here to get signed up.
Read more information inWhitehouse's storm newsletter.
