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Here's how the City of Austin is preparing for the next winter emergency

City leaders provided a list of action items it is taking in preparation of severe winter storms.

AUSTIN, Texas — As Central Texas is weathering through another winter storm event, the City of Austin and its community partners are already taking steps to prepare for the next winter emergency.

In its preparations, Austin collaborates with Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) along with other City departments and community partners to boost the city's ability to prepare for severe weather.

“Critical work is underway, and City departments are taking recommended steps from the after-action report findings that will help ensure we are better prepared and equipped for the kinds of extreme weather we are experiencing right now,” said Rey Arellano, assistant city manager for safety. 

For example, here are just a few ways that City departments are already working together:

  • Shelter Mission Ready Packages are staged at potential shelter sites across the city along with containers of shelter supplies.  

  • Winter weather coordination meetings are being conducted with some of our major disaster relief partners in Austin such as the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) and the American Red Cross.  

  • City of Austin departments meet monthly and participate in valuable exercises and training to hone skills for reacting to disasters.

RELATED: Austin-Travis County, Williamson County activate additional warming centers Thursday morning

As it stands, HSEM, Austin Energy and Austin Water are the key departments involved in a winter storm response, but the City says disaster preparedness relies on the entire City of Austin to be prepared and coordinated.

Here's a list of tasks provided by the City of Austin that key departments have completed in preparation of future winter storm events:

HSEM

  • HSEM acquired low power AM emergency radio systems and stocked up on safety equipment and supplies.  
  • Actively working on ways to make it easier for the public to gather information and stay safe during an emergency. 
  • Developed a ReadyCentralTX resource phone app. This app provides critical guidance and resources to support Central Texans in their efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters. The app has interactive checklists, relevant videos, electronic guides and more ensure users stay informed and proactive about their safety and wellness.    
  • Updated its emergency plans and conducted monthly emergency management meetings on responses to future emergency events such as ice storms.    
  • HSEM launched a new alert system for people who are hard of hearing, deaf or blind and updated their cold weather sheltering plan for people experiencing homelessness.    
  • HSEM also has a plan to place supplies at City of Austin facilities that can be utilized as shelters if needed during winter weather.    

Austin Energy    

Austin Energy has looked at all areas of operation and outlined areas of improvement in its Winter Storm after-action report.     

With the winter season approaching, crews are making sure the utility’s power plants are ready for freezing temperatures and icy conditions. This work begins in October of each year and continues throughout the winter season.

Preparations include:     

  • Reinforcing insulation in and on piping   
  • Activating heat tracing (a heat trace system protects pipes, cables and tanks from freeze damage while maintaining ideal temperatures)    
  • Circulating water through pumps to keep cold temperatures from icing pipes   
  • Engineering and construction of temporary housing, securing heat lamps, propane and electrical heaters and thermal blankets to add additional warmth to critical equipment, when necessary     
  • Reviewing their circuit distribution system    

Visit austinenergy.com/go/winter for more information on how to stay safe during cold weather, power outages and how to save energy and water during the winter.    

Austin Water  

  • Major winter weather preparations have been completed at Austin water treatment plants. Take a tour of the winter preparation efforts at Ullrich Water Treatment Plant.    
  • Austin Water has completed important repairs and preparations at its three water treatment plants for potential freezing temperatures, including installation of insulation, prepped ready-to-go supplies, distributed additional safety equipment for employees and more.    
  • More than 2,000 water lines are being replaced in 60 subdivisions, as Austin Water enhances the resiliency of water infrastructure against extreme weather and emergency events.    
  • Austin Water is also better prepared for community response in the event of an emergency and has improved multiple methods for delivering water to the community during water outages. Two potable water delivery trucks have been received and are available to provide bulk water delivery to the community, and AW maintains an inventory of 275-gallon refillable water totes and fire hydrant adapter kits that can be deployed. Austin Water has also increased its inventory of bottled water for distribution.   
  • Austin Water is providing information to the community on how to prepare for potential freezing weather.   
  • Improvements of Austin’s water, wastewater and metering infrastructure is underway thanks to newly acquired funding from the state. Funds will enhance resilience to extreme weather and emergency events.  

Other

  • Community and Technology Management (CTM) has improved network infrastructure. CTM purchased a mobile generator that can be deployed to serve as a critical network hub. Three additional generators are being acquired and will be placed at critical sites for added fuel support in an extended power outage.     
  • The Combined Transportation, Emergency, & Communications Center (CTECC) is now storing four days of meals and drinking water on site. In coordination with Fleet Services, CTECC is identified as a priority location for fuel resupply to backup generators.     
  • Public Works Department (PWD) added snow removal from critical streets to their workflow and added streets and bridges for clearing or sanding that access Austin Water treatment plants, APD/Fire/EMS stations, hospitals, and more. 
  • Fleet Services updated critical functions and policies, creating a City-wide revised snow chain process and procedure for inventorying, order management, training, and installation.    
  • Austin Transportation Department (ATD) worked with Fleet Services to purchase additional road traction devices and ordered supplies to support staff in the event that staff must stay at ATD facilities around the  clock during a disaster.
  • Building Services Department (BSD), in support of other COA departments and to equip staff with the ability to keep City facilities operational, equipped all BSD on-call vehicles with tire chains.      
  • Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) stationed containers with emergency management supplies in strategic locations for immediate shelter activation.      
  • Homeless Strategy Division of Austin Public Health allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund a temporary Emergency Plans Officer focused on implementation of recommendations related to mass sheltering and other services.

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