You can see directly inside Sara Miranda’s home on 7827 Midbury Drive because windows and walls are missing. Miranda spent the day salvaging her belongings while construction workers did their best to begin clearing debris. She estimates that it will take 12 months to rebuild. In the midst of the devastation, the mailman made his way through the fallen trees and trash to deliver an Amazon package. She had ordered treats for her German Shepherd. It was a much needed sign of normalcy. She’s spending nights at her neighbor’s house until she figures out next steps and is amazingly upbeat.

In the meantime, here are updates from City Council member Jennifer Staubach Gates:

  • Dallas Fire Rescue Command at Marsh and Walnut Hill have 50 large contractor grade tarps for residential roofs. These were donated by Clear Channel. First come, first served.
  • Crews report that they have cleaned up approximately 10 percent of the major intersections.
  • A police officer is driving the streets nightly to report accurate street closures and openings.

Road closures and openings:

Hillcrest & Walnut Hill – open all around

Preston & Walnut Hill – southbound open / northbound is still closed

Inwood & Walnut Hill – northbound is closed, southbound is open

Midway & Walnut Hill – southbound is open but only one lane of northbound is open

Marsh & Walnut Hill – northbound and westbound traffic is shut down

Webb Chapel & Walnut Hill – eastbound, westbound and southbound are open

Walnut Hill – eastbound and westbound is closed at Broadbank

Webb Chapel & Royal – is open

Marsh & Royal – is open

Midway & Royal – is open

Inwood & Royal – southbound Inwood is closed – all other is open

Forest & Preston – southbound is closed –

Forest & Hilcrest – all open

Hillcrest & Royal –  closed

Preston & Royal –  closed

Work crews:

  • When the work crew is deployed in an area, they will not allow anyone who is not a City official, staff member or a partner in the clean up in the area at the time.
  • This link shows where work crews are.
  • City services crews and utility providers are having trouble navigating streets in hard hit areas. Coordinate with surrounding neighbors to have contract crews and residents park on one side of the street only. This will allow large trucks who are attempting to service the area to pass through.

Sanitation services: 

  • Brush and bulk collections will be suspended citywide until further notice in order to dedicate all resources to the storm clean-up within the impact area.

Transportation:

There are currently eight signals on flash and 77 signals without communications. Fifty have no power. There are approximately 75 poles that need to be adjusted or replaced. Dial 3-1-1 to report downed power lines and storm debris blocking roadways.

Oncor:

Oncor reports approximately 9,000 customers remain without power.

In other news:

  • The Insurance Council of Texas projects the EF-3 tornado that hit Dallas was one of the costliest in the state s history, with a total loss of about $2 billion, according to CBSDFW.com.
  • Central Market/H-E-B Mobile Kitchen Teams will be on the ground at the Preston Royal location providing free meals for victims of the Dallas tornado and those helping with the cleanup. The mobile kitchen will be on-site Thursday, Oct 24, through Sunday, Oct 26, serving meals as follows: Breakfast hours: 8 – 10 a.m.; lunch hours: noon – 2 p.m.; dinner hours: 4 – 6 p.m.