As Central Texas faces a spell of freezing temperatures, Austin-Travis County EMS has seen an uptick in cold exposure calls, reporting 12 incidents since Monday, including two that led to suspected hypothermia deaths. According to CBS Austin, the official cause of death in these cases is pending determination by the medical examiner.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson shared with KXAN that as of Tuesday morning, an estimated 550 people have utilized the city’s overnight shelters, with six recreation centers open to provide refuge from the harsh conditions. Despite the response, Watson expressed a desire for greater reach, saying, "That’s a sign of success although I wish we were able to get everybody, because I don’t want anybody sleeping in this weather."
Highlighting the dangers of the cold, Austin Travis County E.M.S. Captain Christa Stedman noted in an interview with CBS Austin that "Hypothermia can set in in a matter of minutes, so the best thing you can do is prepare yourself really well." She added, while the sun was shining, the dangers posed by the cold remain substantial.
In efforts to mitigate the impact of the cold, city of Austin has kept emergency shelters open throughout the morning, which differed from past responses. Stedman mentioned Austin had "learned from past experiences and has done a whole lot of preparation." Meanwhile, KXAN's First Warning Weather team reported some areas receiving up to 0.5" of snow overnight. The situation highlighted the potential for anyone, not just the homeless, to succumb to the cold. Warning signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, and confusion.
The city's response has been multi-faceted, providing not only shelter but also health services, with Mayor Watson informing that Austin Public Health gave flu shots at One Texas Center and other locations. Free meals and resources by Community Care and Integral Care are also on offer at the overnight shelters. Anyone in need of shelter or affected by the cold weather can seek information by calling the hotline at (512) 972-5055.
