During the week of Feb. 14, 2021, the Coppell Fire Department received more than 700 calls, more than 35 times the typical call volume. Why? Because that was the week of rolling blackouts and record low temperatures in Texas.

At Tuesday’s Coppell City Council meeting, the updated emergency protocol response plan was presented to the council. In addition to updating existing infrastructure, such as generators in public buildings, the fire department made sure to sort out an issue that came up last year.

“The priority grid was not maintained,” Coppell Fire Chief Kevin Richardson said. “Contrary to what a lot of people thought, three of our fire stations lost power, and some hospitals lost power. Although we are on priority grids, that wasn’t maintained. One of the first things we did afterwards was confirm with Oncor that we are on the priority grid [and that it will be maintained].”

In addition to hearing Richardson’s breakdown of emergency protocol, the council approved a request from the Coppell Chamber of Commerce to begin planning a ‘Visiting Coppell’ campaign advertising the town to people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The meeting closed with the council’s nominating vote for candidate Brett Franks as the fourth member of the Board of Directors for the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

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