Thread by @jaspscherer

Though most Houston residents have had their power restored, @SylvesterTurner says there may be some additional power outages today, as ERCOT may tell CenterPoint (@CNPalerts) to shed power.

At news conference from @HoustonOEM HQ, Turner says Houston's water pressure has improved and @HouPublicWorks has brought generators back online, but "we still have a way to go." He says citywide water pressure will likely stabilize around 35 PSI sometime tomorrow.

No word yet on what exactly this means for residents' access to running water. However, Turner says the city will remain under a boil water notice until Sunday or Monday, since state law requires cities to continue testing water samples for 24 hours before lifting the notice.

Turner says he's working with council members to establish sites for distributing water around the city and will provide a list of site locations later today.

The mayor also announces the city will set up a fund, similar to one established after Hurricane Harvey, to provide financial aid to those with homes damaged by the winter storm. The city also will help people identify contractors and nonprofits to help with home repairs.

.@HouPublicWorks ended Wednesday with citywide water pressure averaging 18 pounds per square inch, below the 20 PSI threshold at which @TCEQ requires a boil water notice, according to public works director Carol Haddock.

Overnight, @HouPublicWorks brought in five new generators & got four water well stations back online. By 10 AM, citywide water pressure reached 26 PSI. Haddock says crews are working to get the entire city up to that point before pushing to reach 30 PSI by the end of the day.

"Citywide water pressure" means the average across the city. Some parts of the city have water pressure higher than 26 PSI; others are lower.

To reach 30 PSI & get everyone's running water back to normal, Haddock -- the @HouPublicWorks director -- says the city is relying on Houstonians to minimize their water usage by using it only for "truly critical functions" & turning off your water main if you have a burst pipe.

Turner warns people to be careful about who you let into your home: "Make sure you are dealing with plumbers who are plumbers and not con artists."

Haddock, noting that temps will dip below freezing again tonight, advises those who've avoided burst pipes to turn off their water & drain their pipes tonight. "You can turn them back on in the morning," Haddock says. "Your pipes can't burst if there's no water in them to freeze"