RESOURCES: 

Texas Healthy Hotline:      (682) 236-7601                         

Arkansas Department of Health Hotline:  (877) 570-9799

CDC Hotline: (800) 232-4630                     

Local Emergency Operations Hotline: (903) 255-5560                                

LOCAL CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS:

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued Executive Orders limiting social interactions for the state of Texas through April 30th and closing public schools until May 4th. Texans are expected to limit interactions while personal freedoms such as going to the grocery store, bank or gas stations are still allowed. Domestic travel is still allowed. This order applies to all Texas residents and businesses.

Businesses who are still open in the City of Texarkana, Texas and Bowie County should refer back to the Governor’s Orders and determine their essential status. A list can be found here: https://tdem.texas.gov/essentialservices/ and an exemption can be requested on the same page.

Bowie County: Shelter-in-Place 

• CISA Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers (updated 3/30/20) 
• Financial Services Sector Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers

Mayor Bruggeman’s Curfew and Closure Announcement

The City of Texarkana, Texas’ Mayor Bob Bruggeman issued the following Emergency Orders on March 31, 2020:

(1) The City’s mandatory curfew remains in effect from 10 o’clock p.m. to 6 o’clock a.m. for all individuals in the City of Texarkana, Texas.  Exceptions to the mandatory curfew are travel to and from:  work, a hospital, or pharmacy.

(2)  The issuance of itinerant vendor permits shall continue to be suspended, and all current itinerant vendor permits are revoked.

(3)  The City Manager has authority to grant temporary provisions, in writing, to the contract between the City of Texarkana, Texas, and Lifenet EMS.

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES: 

The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce has done a great job of collecting local resources for businesses. Check it out here. 

CARES Act: 

• Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act- Tax Relief for Businesses and Individuals 
• U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Guide to the CARES Act

PPP (Paycheck Protection Program): 

The CARES Act established a $349 billion SBA-backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide immediate access to capital for small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19.

The PPP is specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed and assist with payroll and other business operating expenses. It will provide critical capital to businesses without collateral requirements, personal guarantees or SBA fees. All loan payments will be deferred for six months. Most importantly, if employers maintain their payroll, certain portions of the loans can be forgiven, including payroll, interest on mortgage obligations, rent and utility payments.

Loans will be available through more than 135 existing SBA-certified lenders in Texas, including banks, credit unions and other financial institutions.

• Find a certified lender in your area: SBA’s local assistance finder
• Find out when you can apply: Treasury factsheet
• Find more information regarding PPP and loan requirements: SBA.gov/Coronavirus

COMMUNITY INFORMATION:  

Guidance for churches and houses of worship during the COVID-19 Crisis from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

The CDC has issued a statement warning NOT to take non-pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate. Read more about it here. 

Effective March 31st, the Texas Municipal Court pay window at Bi-State is closed.  Anyone who has fines or citations can call 903-798-3551 for information about taking care of them.

Texarkana, Texas Burglar Alarm Permit payments will be accepted over the phone or by mail only, no late fees will be charged. Residents & businesses can call 903-798-3900 and ask for finance to make a credit card payment. Mail payments should be sent to P.O. Box 1967 Texarkana, TX 75504. Permit applications can be printed at http://ci.texarkana.tx.us/233/Alarm-Response . Call 903-798-3102 if you have any questions.

There are scammers preying on the elderly as well. Scammers are calling and offering to come to the elderly’s home and test them for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and some are calling and offering to mail them a test kit. BOTH of these offers are SCAMS. DO NOT invite anyone you don’t know into your home, or pay anyone over the phone or give out personal information for a test kit. COVID-19 tests should be administered by a trained healthcare professional, and are not available in-home at this time. 

Food resources for those in need (choose the county where you live): https://harvestregionalfoodbank.org/food-assistance/ 

Local meal finder for school children: https://schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com/

Resources for senior citizens and vulnerable populations: https://www.ci.texarkana.tx.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=232 

For businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19: https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/ or https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

If your employment has been effected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus): https://twc.texas.gov/news/unemployment-news 

For healthcare providers in need of PPE (personal protective equipment), please follow this process: http://www.coronatxk.org/677/7350/PPE-Personal-Protective-Equipment 

Several local healthcare providers are offering telemedicine visits for sick patients: 

• CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Richmond Road: Call 903-614-5270 or 903-614-5220
• Collom & Carney: http://www.cccahealth.com/for-patients/telemedicine/
• HealthCARE Express: https://www.healthcareexpress.us/virtual-visit/ 

DISASTER DECLARATIONS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS:

Bowie County: Shelter-in-Place

Bowie County: Disaster Declaration

Cass County: Disaster Declaration

Miller County: Disaster Declaration

City of Texarkana, Texas Disaster Declaration 

City of Texarkana, Texas: Continuance of Disaster Declaration

State of Arkansas: Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Executive Orders

State of Texas: Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Orders