The City of Austin is urging residents to stay put as icy conditions persist, according to an update from their official release. With sub-freezing temperatures wreaking havoc across the city, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains fully activated to tackle the winter weather that's turned roads into potential danger zones.
To prevent travel disasters, Transportation and Public Works crews have been laboring to treat bridges and roadways around the clock. Despite these efforts, city officials recommend against travel unless it's absolutely necessary, noting that "hazardous travel conditions are anticipated to remain through Wednesday morning," as the cold front doesn't seem to be in any hurry to leave town. School Zone beacons, now redundant due to closures, were promptly turned off Tuesday.
Austin-Travis County EMS teams are stretched thin, having responded to over a dozen cold exposure calls since Monday, tragically including two fatalities, "The Travis County Medical Examiner will investigate the cause of death," as their statement reveals. The grim reality of hypothermia has prompted the city to disseminate knowledge on cold-related illnesses, advocating for immediate medical intervention when symptoms are spotted.
Offering a lifeline to the vulnerable, the city has opened its cold weather shelters with arms wide, accommodating around 550 people on Monday night alone and planning to open a sixth due to high demand, as stated in the City of Austin official website. Libraries have stepped up as warming centers, providing Austin's residents with a respite from the chill between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Austin Water has been dealing with a series of water main breaks, successfully restoring service in some areas while others await repair. They've maintained communication with their customers, employing door hangers and notification systems to keep them in the loop on progress—and for 50 customers affected by a break on Stokes Drive, bottled water has been distributed to tide them over.
Other city services have also had to adjust to these extreme conditions. Austin Resource Recovery had to suspend Tuesday collections, advising customers to leave their bins out for pick-up later in the week. Austin Energy has fared better, with no major power outages to report—a small slice of good news in a city currently under frost's thumb.
Updates on the city's response to the winter weather will continue to be posted on various online platforms, including the city’s website and social media, as the EOC maintains vigilance. Residents needing non-emergency services are reminded to use the city’s 3-1-1 line instead of 9-1-1 to ensure that the latter remains available for life-threatening emergencies only. And for those still not signed up for emergency alerts via their phones, a visit to WarnCentralTexas.org is in order.
