Disaster Response

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Bowie County Update on Vaccinations for COVID-19

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According to Texas Department of State Health Services, Bowie County has been allocated 6,200 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations as of 1/13/21:

1,700 doses of Moderna4,500 doses of Pfizer

To date, 1,708 people have been vaccinated in Bowie County according to the Texas DSHS website with at least one dose, and 123 people in Bowie County have been fully vaccinated with two doses. Please note there is a lag in this reporting.  

There are 29 facilities in Bowie County registered to receive supplies of the vaccination, either to vaccinate their employees or the public. To date, nine of those facilities have received shipments, as determined by Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas is currently in Phase 1B of the vaccination plan, which makes vaccinations available to individuals to people 65 and older, or 16 and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Bowie County, Disaster Response

Information for the citizens of Miller County on vaccinations of COVID-19.

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As of this release (1-13-21) The Arkansas Department of Health has yet to provide a viable, thorough, and completed State Vaccination Plan. Miller County Director of Emergency Management Joe Bennett said, “Under limited guidance from the Arkansas Department of Health, Miller County is doing our best and currently working with area community-based pharmacies on the coordination of Phase 1-A criteria as very limited shipments of the vaccine have arrived for our front line medical and 1st Responder personnel.” “No vaccines have arrived for the phase 1-B group, but citizens can contact local participating pharmacies to sign up or contact the Miller County Health Unit who is the lead agency with the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Pharmacies in Miller County are presently administering vaccines to Phase 1-A group. Miller County has not begun Phase 1B as very few doses have arrived. Below is information provided by the Arkansas Department of Health. Vaccines from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have been granted emergency use authorization, meaning doses can administered in the U.S., including in Arkansas.The data from the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials have been carefully reviewed and the FDA signed off on recommendations that found them to be both safe and effective with no significant safety concerns identified.A robust system is in place to evaluate safety of the vaccines even after they are in use.There won’t be enough vaccine initially for all adults who want to receive it. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response, Miller County

Texarkana Water Utilities Continues to Adjust after Cyber Incident

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TEXARKANA, USA– Texarkana Water Utilities is still recovering from the cyber incident suffered on Sunday, December 6th, 2020.  We know this is inconvenient and we apologize. We have experienced a disruption to our normal processes and are working diligently to find solutions for the network issues we continue to experience. While the rebuild and restore mission is in progress, we feel fortunate that none of our customers have suffered an interruption to service delivery. Please remain patient as we work to get everything back online.  

Currently the process for billing has been altered, and this has created some confusion among customers. In an effort to streamline billing and payment while we deal with ongoing issues, please consider how you can stay up-to-date on your TWU account.  

Customers did not receive a physical or electronic bill for December, and many auto draft payments were not processed.   Customer service agents are unable to view account records and process certain types of payment currently. Customers WILL need the name on the account, the service address and if possible the customer account number to make a payment.  TWU strongly encourages their customers to continue making an estimated monthly payment until the billing process is restored. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response, Press Release, Texarkana

What You Need to Know about Getting the COVID Vaccination

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Happy New Year, Oklahoma! There is light up ahead, at the end of this very long tunnel we have been traveling since last March. The first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations began last month with distribution to health care workers, long-term care residents, EMTs and paramedics, and public health staff. The estimated 150,000 Oklahomans in these categories are receiving their first of two doses with an expectation that Phase 1 will be complete this month. Then, Phase 2 can begin, which includes first responders (paid and unpaid including fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers, homeland security, and medical examiners). Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response, Oklahoma

COVID Vaccine Update for Bowie County

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TEXARKANA, TX-  According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Bowie County has been allocated 4,425 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations as of 1/6/21: 

1,500 Moderna 2,925 doses of Pfizer 

To date, 1,160 people have been vaccinated in Bowie County according to the Texas DSHS website. Please note there is a lag in this reporting.   

There are 29 facilities in Bowie County registered to receive supplies of the vaccination, either to vaccinate their employees or the public. To date, only four of those facilities have received shipments, as determined by Texas Department of State Health Services.  

Texas is currently in Phase 1B of the vaccination plan, which makes vaccinations available to individuals to people 65 and older, or 16 and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are limited.  Please be patient if a provider near you does not have vaccines available.   

The following facilities have and/or are vaccinating:   

CHRISTUS St. Trinity Clinic is currently taking appointments  Vaccine appointments can be made by visiting www.christushealth.org and clicking on the yellow chat icon on the homepage to connect you with Christy, our virtual assistant. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response

Bowie County Exceeds 15 Percent Hospitalization for Seven Days

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TEXARKANA, TX— Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell received notification Saturday, January 2, 2020 from Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, notifying him that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F have exceeded 15% of capacity for at least seven consecutive days.  

According to Executive Order GA-32 signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in October, due to COVID-19 hospitalizations exceeding 15% for at least seven days, elective procedures must stop, bars will close, and restaurants will operate at 50% capacity until COVID-19 hospitalizations remain under 15% capacity for seven consecutive days.  

This order applies to all the counties in TSA-F, including Bowie, Cass, Delta, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River and Titus.  

Texas DSHS reports 220 new cases in Bowie County since Monday, December 27, 2020 for a total of 3,102 positive COVID-19 cases, with 124 deaths. The Department of State Health Services is reporting 664 active cases currently in Bowie County.   
Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response

No Christmas Parade for Texarkana This Year!

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Texarkana, AR/TX – In the interest of public health this holiday, Main Street Texarkana’s Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to put a halt on plans for this year’s Christmas parade. “There is enough conflicting information out about the COVID virus that we felt the best thing to do was just to cancel the parade this year,” said Main Street Texarkana Board President Dr. Charles Blankenship. “The risk for our volunteers and local business owners making floats was just too great a worry for us,” said Ina McDowell, MST Executive Director. “We were trying our best to create a safe event for the community with the drive-through parade, but we decided there are plenty of other safe ways for the community to enjoy downtown this holiday season and we will continue the parade next year.”

Downtown businesses have begun decorating their windows, as is their tradition, and a “Christmas Tree Wonderland” is taking shape at Crossties on E Broad Street, which hosts family events most weekends, with a Polar Express movie screening coming this Friday, Dec 4. Also this weekend, TRAHC will host their annual Open House & Arts Market, with local artisans selling their wares, and Southern Grace Boutique is holding an open house with shopping and refreshments. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response

Bowie County Texas Marks 100 Deaths from COVID

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TEXARKANA, TX—Note:. Labs are currently backed up in the State of Texas, meaning the number of new cases may seem lower than it actually is. Please note this when reviewing the following information. Bowie County Emergency Operations Center reports 35 new cases since Tuesday, December 2, 2020, for a total of 2,575 positive COVID-19 cases, with 101 deaths. The Department of State Health Services is reporting 1,797 recoveries. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response

COVID Update 11-24-2020 Texarkana – Bowie and Cass

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TEXARKANA, TX—

Note: There will be no update for the rest of the week unless test results are reported to the EOC. Labs are currently backed up in the State of Texas, meaning the number of new cases may seem lower than it actually is. Please note this when reviewing the following information. Bowie County Emergency Operations Center reports 0 new cases since Friday, November 20, 2020 for a total of 2,491 positive COVID-19 cases, with 97 deaths. The Department of State Health Services is reporting 1,789 recoveries. 

Cass County added 0 new cases, for a total of 720, with 620 of those recovered, and 33 fatalities. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response

COVID Update 11-23-2020 Texas, Bowie and Cass

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TEXARKANA, TX—

Note: Labs are currently backed up in the State of Texas, meaning the number of new cases may seem lower than it actually is. Please note this when reviewing the following information. Bowie County Emergency Operations Center reports 0 new cases since Friday, November 20, 2020 for a total of 2,491 positive COVID-19 cases, with 97 deaths. The Department of State Health Services is reporting 1,789 recoveries. 

Cass County added 6 new cases, for a total of 720, with 620 of those recovered, and 33 fatalities. Through the end of the year, free testing will be offered Monday- Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Texarkana- Bowie County Family Health Center at 902 W. 12th Street, Texarkana, TX 75501. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Disaster Response