Message from the Hays County Personal Health Department

Nick Icossipentarhos, Director
Hays County Personal Health Department
nick.i@co.hays.tx.us

Texas Department of State Health Services
NEWS RELEASE
June 27, 2007

DSHS Issues Flood-Related Health Precautions

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing the following flood-related health precautions following reports of heavy rains and flooding in parts of Texas.

Water:

• Watch and listen for news media announcements about the safety of public drinking water supplies. Follow boil water alerts that may be issued by local water utilities or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Do not drink water from unknown sources.
• Persons under boil water alerts and persons with private wells that may have been contaminated by flood water should use only bottled, boiled or treated water until water has been tested and found safe.
• If you boil water for drinking purposes, allow it to boil for at least one minute. Water also may be disinfected with chlorine or iodine (follow package directions) or with ordinary household bleach one-eighth teaspoon (about eight drops) per gallon of water. Sterilize water containers and drinking utensils with a solution of household bleach.
  

Food:

• Do not eat food that has been in contact with flood water.
• If electricity has been off, refrigerated food may have spoiled. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours or if it has an unusual odor or color. Thawed food from freezers may be safe for consumption or refreezing if it is still partially frozen or is refrigerator cold.
• Babies on formula should be given ready-to-feed formula or powdered formula prepared with bottled drinking water.
• Wash hands with soap and disinfected water before eating or handling food, after clean-up work and after handling flood water-contaminated items.

Environmental Hazards:

• Snakes and other wildlife may seek shelter in trees, homes and vehicles. Bats are often injured in heavy rains and winds. Do not handle these or any other bats. Seek immediate treatment if bitten or injured by an animal. Beware of displaced pets.
• Return home in daylight for best visibility and to be aware of any unsafe power sources. Do not use lanterns or torches until after the premises are safe from gas leaks.
• Standing water after floods is a breeding place for mosquitoes. Drain all standing water and empty water from outdoor items such as old tires, cans and flower pot bases. Protect yourself with an appropriate insect repellent.
• Let no one re-enter your home while flooded unless the main electrical switch has been turned off.
• Wear shoes in post-flood areas to reduce the chances of punctures or cuts from nails and other sharp contaminated objects.

Medical:

• Persons with puncture wounds or cuts exposed to flood water could be at risk of contracting tetanus and may need to have a tetanus shot to prevent infection.

General:

• Do not allow children to play in or near flood water or storm drains.
• Disinfect all furniture, woodwork and other household surfaces in homes that have flooded.
• Wash hands frequently during cleanup to lessen recontamination of cleaned areas.
• To prevent allergic reactions and other health problems caused by mold, replace porous wallboard (from at least 12 inches above the waterline) that has been flood-damaged.
• Disinfect children's toys with a solution of one cup bleach to five gallons of water.
• To prevent producing toxic fumes, do not mix bleach with products that contain ammonia.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not burn charcoal or use gasoline-powered generators or pumps indoors.
• Try to rest and conserve energy and avoid heat stress. Persons with heart conditions and other illnesses should avoid strenuous exertion.

Questions:

• Contact your local health department or DSHS regional office if you have questions about food safety, sanitation procedures or how to have private well water tested.

Online Resources

• Texas Department of State Health Services Natural Disaster Fact Sheets
• Flood: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

posted 06-28-07

Emergency Notification-From Sheriff Allen Bridges

Hays County may experience a large amount of rainfall over the next 24-48 hours. We anticipate this to be a several day event with the possibilities of numerous road closures.

For a List of UPDATED road closures please click on our website for Road Closures listed below; http://www.oem.co.hays.tx.us/RoadClosures/

Please stay tuned to local weather.

Now is a good time to prepare an Emergency Kit in case weather conditions become severe in your area.

TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN

At the present time we have the following roads closed-
Wimberley area - Little Arkansas Rd @ Blanco River (gates closed)
Hidden Valley Rd @ Blanco River (gates closed)
CR 1492 @ Blanco River (gates closed)
Wayside Dr @ Blanco River, Bendigo crossing (gates closed)

For bad weather safety tips, visit our Community section!

Forwarded from Jeff Turner, Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator

Neighborhood Watch Information Memorial Day Weekend Weather Information
Subject: Memorial Day Weekend 05/24/07

We have a long history of Memorial Day periods with significant weather threats in South Central Texas. This next one appears to continue the trend.

An upper level low pressure area will anchor near southern California this evening and begin sending smaller disturbances across our area late Friday. At the start of this event, with cold air aloft and lots of moist, warm air at the surface, we expect isolated severe storms with large hail and high winds. The storms would likely develop somewhere near a Junction to Rocksprings to Del Rio line Friday evening and sweep eastward as short lines and bow echoes. They would also have the potential of producing isolated heavy rainfall totals to 4 inches Friday night and early Saturday morning. That would be sufficient to cause spotty flash flooding. The initial target area would be the western counties of the western Hill Country and Edwards Plateau with the systems reaching the central counties along the IH35 corridor near midnight and tracking over the eastern counties early Saturday morning.

Our concern is that the upper low will move toward Texas very slowly through Monday. We think additional disturbances will cross our area onSaturday, on Sunday, and again on Monday, with the threat slowly becoming more about heavy rainfall than severe hail and windstorms. The upper low may not clear storms from our area until Wednesday. We expect widespread 1 to 2 inch rain totals over this whole event, with scattered amounts to 4 inches, and isolated maximum accumulations to 8 inches.

In view of the holiday period, we wanted to send out this "heads up" well in advance for staff and resource planning purposes.

Our web page: www.srh.weather.gov/ewx
Our discussions: www.srh.weather.gov/data/ewx/afdewx
Threat outlook: www.srh.weather.gov/data/ewx/hwoewx
New Braunfels Nexrad (zoom-able): http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?product=N0R&rid=ewx&loop=yes
Brackettville Nexrad (zoom-able): http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?product=N0R&rid=dfx&loop=yes

NWS Austin/San Antonio

IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Hays Co. Sheriff's Department

BURGLARY OF RESIDENCE AND ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARREST 4-24-07

posted 04-24-07

On 4-24-07, at approximately 2:14am, the Hays County Sheriff's Office received a call of a home invasion and assault at a residence on Heritage Oaks in the Heritage Oaks subdivision in northern Hays County. Deputies arrived and found that a residence had been broken into and one occupant had been assaulted.

The victim, an 18 year old male received non life threatening injuries and was treated by EMS on the scene.

Deputies stopped a vehicle which was seen leaving the area and arrested it's occupant for the crime and a subsequent investigation identified two additional suspects who were located a short time later as they were walking along Highway 290 not far from where the incident occurred.

Arrested and charged with Burglary of a Habitation with intent to Commit a Felony, a first degree felony and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, also a first degree felony are Antwon Patterson, black male 17, Bethal Mayo, white male 23, and Wesley Brown, white male 18. All subjects live in the Dripping Springs area.

The subjects are all in the Hays County Jail and bond has not yet been set.

The investigation continues.

NW Alert-Wimberley area- but could happen in any area

Hays County Sherriff's Department
Ý Ý

Suspicious Circumstances / Door Salesman----WimberleyÝ 04-12-07

InformationÝreceived onÝa call around lunch in reference to several persons in the area of Woodcreek trying to sell vacuum cleaners.Ý The owner of the residence advised that two male subjects were allowed into her home to clean her carpet. One of the male subjects placed a phone call using her land line. The complainant explained that she found it strange and began checking into the business. She stated that the vacuum cleaning service did not exist and thought that she should notify the Sheriff's Office. She explained that nothing in her residence appeared to be missing. She described one of the males as being white and the other black. She explained that both were in their twenties and were traveling with two other females. She could not provide a vehicle make nor model.

If a stranger is at your door...remember you do not have to open your door.Ý Do not let anyone pressure you into opening your door or coming inside your residence.Ý If you see anything suspicious call 911 immediately.

Reminder to keep your residence, vehicles and shops locked at all times.

Please remove any valuable items from your vehicle each and every time you exit your vehicle.

Keep your eyes and ears open and beÝaware of your surroundings. Talk to your children and family members about safety issues.Ý

Take time to Inventory and photo allÝ personal items and keep all your records in a safe place and not on your computer (in case stolen)

Please call 911 if you hear or see anything suspicious.Ý

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WORKS BECAUSE OF YOU

Update On Shooting

posted 04-11-07
IMMEDIATE RELEASE / Hays County Sheriff's Office
Date: April 11, 2007

During the early morning hours on April 11, 2007, The Hays County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division along with Texas Ranger Tommy Ratliff obtained information on the location of the suspect in the shooting and death of a seven year old male on High Rd. in Hays County on April 10, 2007.

Hays County Investigators and Deputies canvassed the neighborhood and were able to develop a suspect. A search warrant obtained from Hays County Court At Law Judge Linda Rodriquez was issued for a residence at 1905 High Rd. Investigators located a 22 rifle that is believed to be the weapon used by the suspect.

An arrest warrant was issued from Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Judge Beth Smith in Hays County for the arrest of Jose Barrera Espitia H/M 07/28/69.

Espitia was arrested and placed in the Hays County Jail on April 11, 2007 at 3:45am and charged with manslaughter, a second degree felony. Bond has not been set at this time.

Police Arrest 2 for Old Hospital Arson

posted 04-10-07
For Immediate Release
City of San Marcos
April 10, 2007

San Marcos Fire Marshals and San Marcos Police arrested a 25-year old Kentucky man and a 15-year old youth in the arson fire that gutted the historic 101-year old hospital on Belvin Street Monday night.

Jailed on arson charges is Nicholas Lane Ryan, age 25, of Kentucky (No DOB is currently available). A 15-year old male was also taken into custody and charged with arson and burglary.

They were arrested at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday at Colony Square Apartments, 700 block of River Road in San Marcos. Justice of the Peace Margie Hernandez issued the arrest warrant at 12:30 a.m.

Additional charges are expected to be filed against Ryan, said Ken Bell, San Marcos Fire Marshal. Two other people were arrested on unrelated charges.

The spectacular fire erupted at around 7:35 p.m. Monday, shooting flames 50 to 100 feet in the sky. The fire and smoke were visible for miles.

San Marcos Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, calling for mutual aid from New Braunfels, Kyle and the South Hays County Fire Departments. The top floor of the 12,500 square foot building was fully involved as firefighters arrived.

Three ladder trucks, including two from San Marcos and one from New Braunfels, attacked the fire from above, while five other engines and seven support vehicles assisted in suppressing the fire. Some 84 emergency responders, including fire, police, EMS and the Civilian Emergency Response Team were on scene.

The fire was largely under control within an hour and a half, but firefighters and arson investigators spent the night on the site of the old hospital.

Witnesses who saw a vehicle leave the scene of the fire as it started provided the breaks in the case, Bell said.

Crowds of spectators lined Belvin Street for hours and watched the 101-year old Victorian era building burn.

The building was constructed as Fisher Hall in 1906 as a boysí dormitory for the Coronal Institute, a private secondary school in San Marcos. The institute closed in 1919 and the building then housed the Southwest Texas Normal School Army Training Corps during World War I.

In 1923, the building was rebuilt as a hospital, serving San Marcos until 1960. The American Legion bought the property and leased it to San Marcos Baptist Academy as a dormitory. A fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, used the building as fraternity house until about 1991. The Fisher Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building is currently owned by T.P Gilmore of San Marcos.

Fire inspectors and building officials continue to assess the extent of the damage.

NW Alert-Wimberley Criminal Episode Vehicle Burglaries-Wimberley

posted 04-09-07
Six total Vehicle Burglaries --three occurring at 7A Ranch, 1 @ Cypress Point, 1 @ Champions Circle, and 1 @ Deluna. Three of the vehicles were 1999 Ford trucks. A 1999 F-150 was also stolen from Liberty LN. (Description of the stolen vehicle is a black F150 Sport, the word "SPORT" is in red on the back of the truck. There is also a purple "WTL" decal on the tailgate.) Entry into four of the vehicles appeared to be by the same tool. The other two were smash and grab jobs from windows. It appeared as if someone took a large flathead screwdriver and hammered it into the door lock. Please remove everything of value from your vehicles each time you exit your vehicle. Don't give thieves a chance to take your personal belongings. Keep an eye on your property as well as your neighbors and report anything suspicious by calling 911.

Possible predators in the neighborhood?

A resident of Sunset Canyon West has had their cat go missing. Since the pet was mature and a homebody, it is assumed she hasn't wandered off. Especially since a similar thing happened to their neighbor, coyotes or foxes are suspected. Both disappearance happened around March 24 - 25.

Please keep an eye out for your small pets and notify us of any predator sightings.

Our condolences to our neighbors.

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