New resources, equipment tests and collaboration with City departments are part of the multi-faceted approach to keep Houston's airports safe and operational during extreme cold and a hard freeze.
The National Weather Service has advised a cold front is expected to pass through the Houston area beginning Sunday, January 14, that will include a hard freeze. Houston Airports is working with Houston Public Works to pre-stage resources, as necessary, to limit the impact of cold weather on the transportation system.
LESSONS FROM 2021 WINTER STORM URI | Houston Airports secures more equipment to minimize impacts to Bush and Hobby airports
Like all Houstonians, Houston Airports hopes no major winter storm adversely affects our community or our airports. But after 2021, like all Texans, Houston Airports updated its plan for extreme winter weather.
In our case, our plan aims to:
- Minimize impacts to our employees, passengers and the airlines.
- Maximize our immediate response.
In December 2023, Houston City Council approved a contract between Houston Airports and Top Dog Services in response to the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri - which forced the multi-day closures of the airfields at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.
Houston Airports now has the heavy machinery, including snowplows, needed to immediately treat and clear runways and taxiways so the airport can stay operational. The heavy machinery is stored, maintained and in position at Bush and Hobby airports.
Houston Airports already had equipment and anti-icing agents needed to treat pavement in the airfield and along roadways.
MORE PREPARATIONS
- Houston Airports owns deicing equipment that can spray, spread and sweep a deicing treatment on taxiways and runways.
- Houston Airports is wrapping exposed piping.
- Houston Airports is working with Houston Public Works to monitor and pretreat roadway overpasses, if necessary.
- Houston Airports is protecting the water sources that service aircraft, (think of it like a water spigot for airplane maintenance.)
- Houston Airports is actively monitoring boiler operations at both Bush and Hobby airports.
ADVICE FOR PASSENGERS
- Passengers should monitor weather conditions, especially before traveling to the airport.
- Passengers need to stay in touch with their airline through the airline's app, social media pages and email. This is especially important when considering weather conditions in other parts of the nation, which may have more serious weather-related difficulties.
- Houston Airports encourages passengers to reserve parking online before arriving at the airport AND passengers should build in more time for their airport arrival.
- Houston's airports are not a shelter.