Killeen rental freeze, hail and flood plan: warming centres, Oncor and a 2008 flood study

The city wrote the plan itself in January. Its inclement-weather notice for January 23–27 named the utilities — “Electric power lines in Killeen are maintained by ONCOR, and natural gas service is provided by Atmos Energy” — gave the outage line, 888-313-4747, and the after-hours water and sewer numbers, 254-501-6319 and 254-501-6320, opened a warming centre with a partner at 412 E. Sprott Street “for a total of 92 hours,” and pointed residents to “protecting pipes and backflow devices” (Inclement weather preparations). A landlord’s winter sheet is that notice with the landlord’s number added. For water, Killeen’s Chapter 12 adopts the FEMA flood insurance study for Bell County dated September 26, 2008, names the building official as floodplain administrator and requires new residential construction to sit at least two feet above the base flood elevation. For hail, the file is photographs and a deductible read in advance.

Freeze: the January template

Before the season: insulate exposed lines, hose bibs and the backflow assembly; test the heating; give the tenant written freeze instructions and the water-shutoff location.
When a freeze is forecast: the tenant drips faucets and opens cabinet doors; the landlord checks any vacant unit’s heating.
If the power fails: the tenant reports to Oncor, not the retail provider (City of Killeen); the landlord does not promise a restoration time; §92.008 limits what a landlord may do about utilities in the meantime.
If the house has no heat for a long outage: the city’s warming centres — the January notice listed a partner centre and city facilities during business hours — are the tenant’s option; write the rule on the sheet so nobody rings the landlord to ask.
If a pipe bursts: the tenant closes the main valve and reports in writing; the metered water lands on the city account named in the lease, and the repair clock under §92.056 starts with the report.

Flood: the 2008 study and the disclosure

Property Code §92.0135 asks whether the dwelling is in a 100-year floodplain and whether it has flooded in the last five years. Answer the first from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center — the city’s ordinance adopts the September 26, 2008 Bell County study “and any revisions thereto,” so the current FEMA panel governs — and keep a dated screenshot; answer the second from records. Killeen’s freeboard rule means a house built after the ordinance sits two feet above the base flood elevation; an elevation certificate, if one exists for the property, belongs in the file (Code Ch. 12). The TREC form supplies the wording.

Hail: the spring file

Photograph the roof, fence and any carport each March with dates. Read the policy for a wind-and-hail deductible stated as a percentage of the insured value — on the city’s $215,400 median home value (Census) 2% is about $4,300 — and for loss-of-rents cover; a licensed agent answers what the page does not. After a storm the tenant’s written report starts the §92.056 clock; acknowledge it the same day. The fence amendment in the city’s maintenance code means a storm-damaged fence is also a code item — the Killeen maintenance guide has the rule.

The tenant who is deployed when the storm comes

A Killeen rental may be occupied by a family whose servicemember is away. Put a second emergency contact on the lease for that case, and agree in writing who may authorise entry for an emergency repair. If the storm makes the unit unusable, §92.054 governs termination and refunds; if the family leaves on orders after it, §92.017 governs the notice and the timetable.

THE SHEET BY THE DOOR — KILLEEN
Situation	Who to call	Source
Power outage	Oncor, 888-313-4747 or oncor.com/outage-weather	City of Killeen
Gas loss or smell	Atmos Energy emergency line — leave the building first	City of Killeen
Water or sewer emergency after hours	City of Killeen, 254-501-6319 or 254-501-6320	City of Killeen
No heat in a long outage	City warming centres as announced; city facilities in business hours	City of Killeen
Burst pipe, leak, roof damage	Close the main valve; call the landlord; report in writing	Property Code §92.056

After the event

Photographs with dates, the tenant’s report, the claim number, contractor invoices, Oncor and city notices and the repair-completion note go in one folder. A flood changes the second §92.0135 answer for five years; record the date.

What changes in Killeen

The city’s own January notice names Oncor, Atmos, after-hours water numbers and a 92-hour warming centre.
Backflow devices are on the city’s freeze list, not just pipes.
The flood ordinance adopts the 2008 Bell County study and requires two feet of freeboard.
A deployed-tenant clause: second contact and written entry authority.
Hail deductibles read against a $215,400 median home value.

Frequently asked questions

Who do Killeen tenants call when the power goes out?

Oncor, at 888-313-4747 or oncor.com/outage-weather — the city’s own guidance — not the retail provider on the bill (City of Killeen).

Does Killeen open warming centres?

Yes — for the January 23–27 event the city partnered with Friends in Crisis at 412 E. Sprott Street for a 92-hour warming centre and opened city facilities during business hours (City of Killeen).

Which flood study does Killeen use?

The FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Bell County dated September 26, 2008, with its maps and revisions; new residential construction must sit two feet above the base flood elevation (Code Ch. 12).

What if the tenant is deployed during a storm?

Use the second emergency contact and the written entry authority agreed in the lease; if the unit becomes unusable, Property Code §92.054 applies (Property Code).

Sources

Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.

General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.