TITLE: Honoring the police, firefighters, health care personnel, and other workers who helped their communities endure the winter storm of February 2021.

SUMMARY: Honoring the police, firefighters, health care personnel, and other workers who helped their communities endure the winter storm of February 2021.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, In the midst of the massive winter storm that devastated Texas during the week of February 15, 2021, first responders, emergency services personnel, and other frontline workers made extraordinary efforts to save lives and property and bring urgent relief to Texans in need; and WHEREAS, As the storm engulfed the state, temperatures plunged to near-historic lows in many areas, leading to heavy accumulations of snow, ice, and freezing rain; the power grid that covers much of the state struggled to keep up with soaring demand for electricity, resulting in mass power outages that affected some four million households; the crisis escalated as families were left without power through several days of subfreezing weather, while icy conditions rendered roads impassable and brought travel to a standstill across the state; further compounding the misery, water lines froze and ruptured, forcing residences, businesses, and even hospitals in some communities to contend with water shortages; and WHEREAS, At great risk to their own safety, emergency medical personnel, police, and firefighters continued to carry out their lifesaving work, persevering through sleet and snow to rescue stranded motorists and other citizens in danger; health care providers, already burdened with heavy workloads and high levels of stress, also bravely answered the call of duty, even as perilous roadway conditions made it difficult to travel to work; meanwhile, public works employees and transportation crews took to the task of deicing roads, and other city employees staffed warming shelters and coordinated emergency resources throughout the duration of the crisis; and WHEREAS, Utility line workers labored around the clock to repair storm damage and restore power to homes and businesses, while water utility and water treatment plant employees worked overtime to attend to water supply disruptions; plumbers and contractors were also met with overwhelming demand, as critical numbers of Texas homeowners dealt with damaged pipes and water heaters; in addition, the efforts of grocery store employees, food warehouse workers, and truck drivers were crucial to mitigating interruptions to the food supply chain and ensuring that storm victims were able to keep their families fed; and WHEREAS, As cities and towns across Texas were reeling from a weather event of historic magnitude, the essential workers of our state bravely and selflessly stepped forward to provide much-needed aid and support to their communities, and they have earned the heartfelt gratitude of their fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby honor the police, firefighters, health care personnel, and other workers who helped their communities endure the winter storm of February 2021 and extend sincere best wishes to these heroic men and women for their continued health and safety. Raymond Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 250 was adopted by the House on March 18, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House