Governor Gregg Abbott directed state agencies, through the Texas Division of Emergency (TDEM), to coordinate and deploy resources in response to a disaster declaration issued by Ector County Judge Debi Hays resulting from the City of Odessa main water line failure currently impacting approximately 165,000 Texans in the area.
The loss of potable water supply in Odessa on Monday is being addressed locally with support from the State of Texas utilizing a variety of resources to alleviate citizens' immediate water needs and support the restoration of the local water supply.
"The State of Texas is taking swift action to respond to Odessa’s impacted water supply and support the local community in meeting their water needs," said Abbott. "I urge residents in Odessa to follow guidance from local officials and take the proper precautions to ensure their health and safety as we work together to restore safe tap water in the community."
The City of Odessa Public Water System has issued a Boil Water Notice that will remain in effect until water pressure is restored and water is deemed safe to consume. Citizens were advised to boil water for cooking, drinking, or other consumption.
However, the boil water notice was not much of an issue for those who woke up to no water. Early Tuesday morning, Odessans took to social media asking about the issue. Some said they had little water pressure, others said they had no water at all.
The Medical Center Hospital in Odessa said it would cancel all surgeries and procedures planned for June 14. All dialysis procedures were limited to emergencies and the hospital also said its clinics would remain closed through the day. The Emergency Department, however, would remain open. MCH said it would distribute bottled water to patients on all floors and would have port-a-potties on campus.
Ector County ISD canceled summer school classes scheduled for Tuesday. Odessa College as well as other County and City offices followed suit and remained closed as well.
Area businesses have also been impacted by the water issues, with many restaurants closed their doors and said they will be closed “until further notice”.
Midland County Emergency Management helped with emergency preparations through the night by sending a water tanker to Odessa Fire Rescue to pre-stage for potential fires. Midland County said that tanker holds about 6,000 gallons of water.
One local businessman, Chef Alejandro of Curbside Bistro, said he and his team were stepping in to make sure children and first responders, as well as crews working to make repairs, were fed with lunches at the Ector County Coliseum.
The City of Midland has donated 28 pallets of bottled water to help ensure the community had clean water, though supplies were limited and each car given one case of water.
To provide safe-drinking water to Texans in Odessa, TDEM has deployed truckloads of bottled water to be distributed by local officials at points of distribution (PODS) that they have established within the community.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has staff on site providing support and technical assistance to the City of Odessa as local officials work to repair the damaged watermain and assist the city by providing any requested support as they work to lift the boil water notice, while ensuring state and federal drinking water standards are met once the main water line is repaired and the drinking water system is back online
Coordinated through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, TDEM is making personnel available from the Texas A&M Public Works Response Team to provide technical assistance to the City of Odessa as they work to repair the water main break.
TDEM is also working closely with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs), as well as the private sector, to coordinate resources that are needed by the impacted population at this time. Lowe’s and Home Depot are two of the private sector partners actively working to ensure bottled water remains on their shelves for Odessa residents.
Texans in the affected areas are advised to stay informed and heed the guidance of local officials as efforts to restore water service continue.