NEWS
TSA offers travelers tips to make the skies smoother
WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened just under 21 million travelers during the 10-day Thanksgiving holiday. The agency expects high travel volumes into the December holidays and encourages passengers planning to travel this holiday season to sign up for TSA PreCheck® to provide more convenience and save time at the airport.
“We see a strengthening in the airline travel industry toward pre-pandemic levels and our goal is to ensure you as the passenger have a safe and secure flight,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We work hard with our airport and airline partners to achieve this by ensuring screening operations meet the upcoming demand. I also want to thank our Transportation Security Officers across the country who, each and every day, meet the travel volume demand and help keep airport screening lanes moving to ensure millions of passengers arrive at their destinations safely.”
Holiday travelers may enjoy a smoother screening process by enrolling in TSA PreCheck. Members of the trusted traveler program do not have to remove their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets. In November, 94% of members waited less than 5 minutes. Those who apply today will likely have their application accepted within 5 days, just in time for the holidays.
The application process is a simple two-step process, which can be started online and at home. 1) Apply online and schedule an appointment at any of the more than 400 enrollment centers. 2) Attend a 10-minute or less in-person appointment that includes fingerprinting for a background check and a payment of $85 for the 5-year membership. Many credit cards and loyalty programs also reimburse the application fees. Travelers whose membership expired can renew their membership online for $70 before the holidays at TSA.gov/PreCheck.
In order to keep screening lanes moving quickly throughout the holiday season, travelers should:
- Be flexible. Airports have rush hours too. If you want to avoid normal airport rush hours, which are normally between 5-7 a.m. or 4-6 p.m., consider booking your flight outside of those hours. Check all carriers, as they might have other flight options.
- Pack smart by contacting TSA or visiting our What Can I Bring page before you leave you home.
- Arrive early at the security checkpoint: two hours for domestic or three hours for international flights.
- Follow signs and verbal direction provided by our Transportation Security Officers (TSO) to help keep screening lanes moving.
- Be patient and considerate of others. Our TSOs are working as fast as they can and many travelers are flying for the first time since the pandemic began. In an effort to remind passengers to show gratitude and practice patience with others while traveling, TSA worked with its partners in the development of this Public Service Announcement about the Gift of Travel.
- Avoid fines by properly packing your firearm and respecting our officers, flight crew and other frontline workers. Firearms are prohibited at the checkpoint and in carry-on luggage.
- Join TSA PreCheck or renew your existing membership here before the holidays.
Firearms found at TSA airport security checkpoints continue to trend higher. This year, TSA officers have stopped more than 5,000 firearms at checkpoints – a 20-year record – ensuring they didn’t make it into the airport’s secure area and the passenger cabin of aircraft. Over 85% of firearms are loaded. In some cases, local law enforcement confiscates firearms at checkpoints and arrests those in possession of a firearm at a TSA checkpoint. TSA fines passengers caught with firearms at checkpoints up to $13,910 and suspends their TSA PreCheck membership benefits.
Airline passengers traveling with a firearm must properly pack it in checked baggage and declare it to their airline.
Since March 2020, TSA has dramatically modified airport security checkpoint operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to improve social distancing and reduce physical contact. These operational modifications continue in an effort to contain the virus, including the new Omicron variant. These changes include upgraded screening and credential authentication equipment at many airports to help reduce physical contact. The face mask requirement currently in place across the nation’s transportation systems is extended through March 18, 2022 and aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
In accordance with the President’s Executive Order requiring federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID, 93% of the TSA workforce is in compliance with the vaccine and exemption requirements. About 86% are either partially or fully vaccinated and TSA will continue to work diligently with those who have submitted exemption requests.
Airline travelers may contact TSA directly before their flight with questions on airport screening. General questions can be answered by submitting a question directly to @AskTSA on Twitter and Facebook or by calling (866) 289-9673 between the hours of 8am-11pm Eastern on weekdays or 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekend/holidays. For individuals with special needs, TSA Cares is available via email here or by calling (855) 787-2227 on weekdays between 8am-11pm or during weekends/holidays between 9 a.m.-8 p.m. EST.
For more information on traveling safely during the holiday season, please visit www.tsa.gov.
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The Bowie News was overwhelmed with more than 400 snow day photos sent in from across the county. Please view them on our Facebook page. We will publish many in the Thursday Bowie News. Thank you to everyone who sent them in.
Top photo – Brandee Mumms and her family put together a snowman.
WICHITA FALLS DISTRICT – TxDOT maintenance crews cleared all Tier 1 and Tier 2 highways
today. Snowplows started running between Midnight and 4 am across the region. Tonight, we
are expecting slick conditions because of refreeze. Bridges and overpasses will be particularly
icy.
Archer City Office: Archer county is reporting wet roads on their Tier 1 roadways including US
281 and SH-79. They are planning to run plows on secondary roads this evening. Slick spots on
bridges and overpasses are expected overnight.
Bowie and Nocona Offices: Bowie and Nocona kept highways US 287, US 82, US 81, and SH59 constantly cleared today. The area’s primary roads are in great shape. The crew plans to
expand to SH-175 in Montague and Nocona overnight.
Gainesville Office: The Gainesville office is responsible for taking care of more than 20 miles of
I-35. Crews worked hard today to keep I-35 in great condition and keep the Interstate traffic
moving. US 82 is also a high priority highway, and the plows were on it all day. The office has
been able to plow some of their higher volume FM roads. Refreeze will also be a big concern in
Cooke County.
Graham Office: Graham’s crew got their primary roads in top shape today. However, the
Area Engineer, Zach Husen, wants to remind everyone that bridges and overpasses will refreeze
tonight. There will be ice on the lane markings as well as the shoulders. Graham has already
been able to start plowing FM’s which they will work on tonight as well.
Henrietta and Clay County Office: Our maintenance office in Henrietta services all of Clay
County. US 287 is their Tier 1 roadway that was very good shape this afternoon. The crew has
already started plowing lesser traveled roads and will continue to plow new highways while
maintaining the best service possible on US 287. The maintenance supervisor, Darin Reed, is
concerned about snow and runoff refreezing tonight. Drivers should be cautious and watch for
black ice.
Vernon, Wilbarger County Office: The Vernon crew kept US 287 in good shape today. They
were able to work on other primary and secondary roads in their area. Refreeze is the main
concern for tonight.
Wichita Falls Office: Crews plowed their major roadways in top shape including I-44, US 287,
and US 82 (Kell Fwy) as well as the area’s secondary highways. This crew will continue to keep
control of these major roadways throughout the night.
(MORE)
Wet roadway conditions with slick spots are expected across the entire district. Refreezing will
happen on plowed highways and unplowed roads. Overpasses and bridges will be the first to
freeze and the last to thaw. Motorists should be on the watch for black ice.
Motorists can obtain travel information, road conditions and see 15 Wichita Falls traffic cameras
and 1 Vernon camera by visiting DriveTexas.org or calling (800) 452-9292. Traffic cameras are
also at TxDOT.Gov.
Remember to follow the Wichita Falls District on our Facebook page,
www.Facebook.com/TxDOTWichitaFalls and on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/TxDOTWF
If you experience any emergency on the road, call 9-1-1 for help.
Drivers are urged to follow these precautions:
Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal dry road and weather
conditions, not winter road conditions. Do not use cruise control.
Turn on your headlights. It is not for you…it’s so other drivers can see you.
Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice.
Watch carefully for personnel, equipment treating roadways, and stay at least
200 feet back from road crews. Don’t Crowd the Plows.
Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses, intersections, and shaded
areas as they tend to freeze first and thaw last.
If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction
that you want to go until you feel you have regained traction, and then
straighten your vehicle.
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today provided an update on Texas’ ongoing response to severe winter weather impacting large portions of the state following a briefing with state officials at the State Operations Center in Austin. Texans across the state should prepare for below freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow through the next few days.
“The lives of our fellow Texans are by far the most important priority,” said Governor Abbott. “We are dealing with very cold and below-freezing temperatures that will remain in place across much of the state, especially in the northern half of Texas. Texans are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit tdem.texas.gov/warm and monitor local media outlets for their closest warming center. To help Texans stay safe and warm, I deployed emergency response resources from more than a dozen agencies across the state of Texas. I urge Texans to be careful and cautious to protect yourself and your life while driving on the road in these conditions. I want to thank all the emergency first responders who are engaged at the state and local levels. Their role and service are more critical now than almost any other time as we work to protect our fellow Texans.”
Watch the Governor’s full press conference here.
Governor Abbott was joined at the press conference by Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Deputy Executive Director Brian Barth, Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Pablo Vegas, and Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson.
During the live update, the Governor noted that freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow will begin to push into West Texas and continue to spread eastward, impacting West, Central, North, and Northeast Texas through Friday. The Governor urged Texans to avoid traveling on roadways due to snow and ice accumulations that may impact the state, especially across North and Northeast Texas and West Texas through the Big Country, Concho Valley, and the Northern Hill Country. Governor Abbott also advised Texans to have contact information for their local power provider in the event of any localized power outages. Additionally, Governor Abbott encouraged Texans to remain weather-aware, avoid going outside in freezing temperatures, and utilize one of the more than 300 warming centers across the state to help stay warm.
Yesterday, Governor Abbott directed TDEM to increase the readiness level of the Texas State Operations Center to Level II (Escalated Response). The Governor also directed TDEM earlier this week to activate state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe winter weather.
The State of Texas has over 3,400 state personnel, over 1,860 vehicles and equipment assets deployed, and over 21 state agencies responding to this winter weather across Texas.
Texans are encouraged to visit the TDEM Disaster Portal for winter weather information. Texans can also locate winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.
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