March 2021 County News Update Volume 4 No. 1 The Big Freeze I am glad to see warmer weather no way for the County to continue normal operations has returned to Tarrant County. It under such extenuating circumstances. I am glad to has been a while since we have say the county was only closed for one week in or- seen temperatures that cold. der for us to address critical repairs needed for us to While I believe locally we did all operate. within our power to keep folks Of particular note, our Juvenile Detention Center safe and warm, there were many experienced a litany of challenges. From heating Tarrant County Judge shortcomings statewide which units failing to a water main break which caused a B. Glen Whitley could have and should have been water pressure loss to the entire facility, our staff avoided. I, like many of you, went days without responded well to the situation and worked tirelessly power at a time when we needed it the most to keep along with the City of Fort Worth to restore services our homes warm and our water flowing. Equally as as quickly as possible to those under our care. frustrating was sitting on hold to schedule an ap- pointment with a plumber to fix ruptured pipes. This is something that no Texan should ever have to experience. While the finger pointing continues in Austin, Tar- rant County and its facilities continue to recover. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the first responders who braved these winter storms to minimize what could have been an even more catastrophic event. This extends not only to police and fire, but also to the employees of Oncor, Atmos Energy, and the countless local governmental Photo courtesy of Brian Luenser entities who kept essential services up and running The Tarrant County Courthouse and downtown Fort Worth during major winter storm on February 17, 2021 during this devastating time. Tarrant County facilities held up pretty well but, While it is tragic the state was not more prepared like many of you, we also faced issues of our for an event of this magnitude, I am again very own. Our street crews, not being able to pump gas proud of how Tarrant County staff, its cities, and its from our fuel islands, struggled to keep our roads citizens responded. Especially helping those who open while our facilities folks responded to a multi- needed help the most. tude of ruptured water lines and generator fail- ures. Tarrant County staff worked around the clock to mitigate these damages which would have caused Tarrant County to not be able to operate. I often times have said the County never closes but, due to the controlled power outages I saw 1 March 2021 County News Update Volume 4 No. 1 Vaccinations Going Strong in Tarrant County It is often said that as goes Tar- week of first doses at the FEMA site and will begin rant County so goes the state of second shots next week. Texas. And in working to vac- cinate our citizens, this saying continues to ring true. We are now in our fifteenth week of vaccinating Tarrant and other Texas county citizens against the COVID-19 virus. With a multitude of vaccination hubs up and running including the Resource Connection, Hurst Conference Center, Bob Bolen Recreation Center, the drive thru site at Farrington Field and TCU, Arling- ton ESports Complex and FEMA vaccination sites, Tarrant County has administered over 370,000 doses. This means approximately 11% of our population has had at least one dose and 6% of our residents have Citizen receiving his first dose at the Arlington FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site. had two doses. Breaking down the numbers, 42% of vaccinations have gone to seniors 65 and older. Tarrant County also continues to be a leader in the The FEMA site is one of the first in the country. number of doses allocated as a percentage of popula- Tarrant County was specifically designated by the tion. This is yet another testament and recognition by federal government for an eight week program to the state of Tarrant County’s ability to coordinate vaccinate over 60,000 citizens using the Pfizer vac- vaccine distribution. While there is still a long way cine. An additional goal of this site is to target indi- to go to reach immunity by vaccination, Tarrant viduals who rank highest on the CDC’s social vulner- County will continue to get “shots in arms” as quick- ability index (SVI). We are currently in the final ly and as efficiently as possible. Tarrant County Legislative Delegation Texas House District 90 Representative: Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth ……… [email protected] ……... 512-463-0740 District 91 Representative: Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth ……… [email protected] …….... 512-463-0599 District 92 Representative: Jeff Cason, R-Bedford …………….... [email protected] ………….... 512-463-0522 District 93 Representative: Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth ………….. [email protected] ………….. 512-463-0562 District 94 Representative: Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington ………... [email protected] ……… 512-463-0624 District 95 Representative: Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth ……….… [email protected] ………..... 512-463-0716 District 96 Representative: David Cook, R-Arlington ………………. [email protected] .………….. 512-463-0374 District 97 Representative: Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth ………. [email protected] …….... 512-463-0608 District 98 Representative: Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake … giovan- 512-463-0690 [email protected] ... District 99 Representative: Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth ………... [email protected] ……….... 512-463-0610 District 101 Representative: Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie …….. [email protected] ……………. 512-463-0574 Texas Senate District 9 Senator: Kelly Hancock, R-Westlake ………………..…. [email protected] ……….. 512-463-0109 District 10 Senator: Beverly Powell, D-Fort Worth ……………….. [email protected] ……… 512-463-0110 District 12 Senator: Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound ……………… [email protected] …………. 512-463-0112 District 22 Senator: Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury ………………….. [email protected] ……….. 512-463-0122 2 .