Childress declares local disaster after extreme heat leaves residents without safe water
The City of Childress, Texas, declared a local state of disaster due to extreme heat and drought conditions, which led to disinfectant residuals evaporating and the city being under a boil water notice. This water crisis occurs as the city is under Stage 4 of its Drought Contingency Plan, with previous reports mentioning a data center expansion by IREN and related resident protests over housing and water use.
The City of Childress, Texas, and Childress County both declared a local state of disaster on Friday, September 11, amid severe drought and extreme heat conditions. This declaration was prompted by evaporated disinfectant residuals in the city's water supply, rendering it unsafe and necessitating a city-wide boil water notice since Tuesday.
The proclamation, issued by the municipality and echoed by Childress County Judge Kim Jones, stated that "extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property." Childress Mayor Cary Preston indicated that the disaster declaration opens avenues for assistance from the State of Texas. The city is also under Stage 4 of its Drought Contingency Plan due to critically low levels in Lake Greenbelt, leading the Greenbelt Municipal Water Authority to impose mandatory water rationing on its customers.
Previous related reports mentioned IREN's data center expansion in Childress, which was cited for bringing jobs while also drawing concerns over water use. Additionally, residents have protested rent hikes, linking them to data center growth in the area.