Mayor of San Angelo Sets Curfew for About 1/4 of San Angelo Impacted by Flood Damage

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo officials have clarified exemptions to an emergency order restricting overnight access to flood-damaged areas, allowing rideshare drivers, delivery services, home healthcare providers and essential travel for residents to continue moving through certain zones despite the curfew.

The updated guidance, announced Wednesday night, specifies that travel along major through streets such as Bell Street, Chadbourne Street and Armstrong Street will remain open, along with the TxDOT-approved detour for Houston Harte. Essential trips, including commuting to and from work, medical visits or emergencies, are also exempt.

“This will apply to the nighttime hours as residents can already come and go during the day,” city officials said in an update.

The overnight order, in effect from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily, was issued in response to reports of looting in flood-impacted neighborhoods. Police Chief Travis Griffith said officers had received “many reports” of individuals taking belongings from damaged properties and emphasized the goal is to limit traffic and help law enforcement identify who belongs in the affected zones.

“With this order, we’re creating a restricted zone with some time frames,” Griffith said in a video posted to the city’s and police department’s Facebook pages. “At eight tonight, we’re asking homeowners, renters, residents of any kind, that they remain on their property during that time frame, unless you’ve been condemned with a red X on your property.”

Mayor Tom Thompson said the city enacted the order because of “excessive looting scavengers” who have been “walking off with people’s stuff” and “cutting bags open,” adding that officials previously had “no tool to enforce” restrictions in the flooded areas.

Officials stressed the order isn’t aimed at penalizing residents coming home late from work.

“If you work until 3 a.m. and are returning to your residence located in this area, this doesn’t mean police are going to arrest you,” Thompson said, adding that officers “will use discretion.”

Violations of the order are a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $1,000 fine, though Griffith said officers prefer voluntary compliance over enforcement.

“We just have too many people going around stealing stuff, and we don’t want that,” Griffith said. “We want you to know that we care about you guys, and we’re praying for everyone that’s affected.”

City officials said the restricted zones are outlined in “Exhibit A” of the ordinance, and the order will remain in effect until local authorities determine it is no longer necessary.

"The restricted area has been deemed hazardous to the safety of individuals, or access would impede law enforcement and safety operations in the area," information from the city states. "In addition, this will help address criminal activity in the area. Access in or out of the area will be at the discretion of the San Angelo Police Department." 

View the updated map that includes the exemptions (PDF) by clicking HERE. 

Visit sanangelo.gov/July4 for more information the flood relief efforts.

You can find the original order by clicking HERE.