Jeff’s Backyard – An Essential Disaster Preparedness Provider (COVID-19)

On Monday afternoon, March 23, 2020, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolfe made a joint announcement to the community regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.  Details of this announcement are outlined and codified in the Mayor’s Emergency Order #5 – Declaration of Public Health Emergency Regarding COVID-19 , effective Midnight March 24, 2020.

https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/health/COVID19/Website%20Docs/Emergency%20Declaration%20No.%205.pdf?ver=2020-03-23-175107-393

The gist of this announcement is a “Stay Home/Work Safe” mandate for all San Antonians and residents of Bexar County.  However, there are provisions for essential businesses and services to remain open for the public good. The delivery of propane by Jeff’s Backyard (JBY) falls under this category.

JBY is licensed by the Texas Railroad Commission of Texas, which is the oversight and safety division for Alternative Fuel Safety in the state.  The JBY license is #18829. JBY fills not only the familiar “20lb” bottle used on most gas grills, but we also fill all other capacity bottles up to 100lbs.  Our customers use propane in both home and commercial settings, from running forklifts to cooking food, from heating homes to heating water heaters. We typically fill 200-500 gals of propane a week (converted, that would be 800-2,100 lbs), but in peak cycles we have filled as much as 1,200 gals in a week (over 5,000 lbs).

Specifically, under the Mayor’s Emergency Order #5, JBY falls under the following guidelines:

• Definitions:
  • Exempted Activities:
    • Necessary Supplies: “products necessary to maintain … operation of residences.”
  • Exempted Businesses:
    • Transportation:
      • “… other fuel distribution businesses”

In this great time of need throughout the community, we are proud to be able to serve our fellow San Antonians.

Sincerely,

Herb Detmer,
Owner – Jeff’s Backyard

Kathy Detmer,
Owner – Jeff’s Backyard