Dear Neighbors:
I am grateful for the many neighbors and city staff and crews who are stepping up to help in whatever ways they can. As I write, much of the city now has no water or low water pressure and many are dealing with frozen pipes. Many have had their power restored. Yet thousands still remain without power in Bryker Woods, Cat Mountain, Highland Hills, and parts of Great Hills. I am doing what I can to help you. Austin Energy crews are working hard to fix lines damaged by severe weather and related equipment challenges. Austin Water is doing everything they can to fully restore our water supply. Fortunately, the weather is clearing, as are the roads, and access to supplies and assistance is becoming easier.
Water Distribution:
The city remains under a boil water notice. See www.austintexas.gov/page/boil-water-notice-and-faqs for more details.
A key priority for the city is facilitating a coordinated and orderly water distribution to our community. Bulk water is en route to Austin and we are anxiously awaiting its arrival. We are working quickly and carefully to finalize distribution sites and preparing to stand those up as water becomes available. Our emergency operations are mobilizing as fast as they can. I will share distribution locations and more information as soon as I can.
We realize many individuals in our community may not be able to access distribution sites once they are activated. In an effort to ensure everyone in our community has access to water supply, we will be working closely with our non-governmental partners like Austin Disaster Relief Network, Meals on Wheels, and the Central Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (CTXVOAD) to assist these individuals. Additionally, the City is working to distribute some limited small quantities to priority sites like shelters and warming centers. We are also working with community partners to help get water to vulnerable and critical need populations.
With the warmer weather, more stores are open and beginning to stock supplies including water. If you are able to purchase water, please do so. Remember that just like with toilet paper in 2020, hoarding more than you need to get through a few days may complicate our ability to meet the immediate needs of others. There likely will be purchase limits and I ask you to be patient with the staff working at these grocery stores. Please help us keep these essential employees and others safe by wearing a face covering, watching your distance, and sanitizing your hands. We are still living through a pandemic.
Austin Water:
This morning Austin Water released a map that illustrates how the water system across Austin Water’s service area is currently performing. Each of the nine pressure zones that AW maintains is shown as an area experiencing water outages (red) or low pressure (orange). The goal is for each zone to get to green again, where the system is operating normally, and the boil water notice can be lifted.
To achieve this, Austin Water is working to:
Maintain water pressure in the Central Pressure Zone, which is the delivery hub for both the North and South Zones.
Continue filling water in the other pressure zones to turn those pressure zones orange.
As we work to repair and restore our water system, we need everyone to conserve water as much as possible. Using as little water as possible will allow us to put excess water produced into storage, which is critical for the health of the entire system. As Austin continues to thaw out, please report potential water main breaks here.
Austin Energy Update:
With improving grid conditions, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — the Texas grid manager — ended emergency conditions Friday, Feb. 19. Electric utilities across the state, including Austin Energy, are working quickly and safely to fix outages caused by the severe winter weather.
While temperatures are rising, cold and icy conditions continue to affect the Austin area and Austin Energy’s electrical equipment. Some customers may still experience power outages related to the winter storm and full restoration may take several days.
All available Austin Energy crews are working to safely restore power. Austin Energy has made great progress on getting households back online; as of 1pm Friday, Feb. 19, they have about 21,000 customers without power.
Working through the system and identifying issues from the severe winter weather will take time. Many of the customers who are still without power have issues such as trees on power lines, equipment that needs to be replaced, etc. This process takes time and must be done carefully. Crews are still dealing with ice on vegetation, ice on power lines and ice on equipment, which slows down the restoration work. Certain customers may take several days for their power to be restored. For residents without power in Bryker Woods, Cat Mountain, Highland Hills, and parts of Great Hills, please know that we have engaged Austin Energy extensively regarding these neighborhood outages. I have shared updates on specific areas on Facebook.
If you don't see your outage reflected on the Outage Map, this may be an instance where the original outage has been resolved, but other issues exist, preventing restoration at your location. If your outage shows up as restored on the outage map but you still do not have power, call 512-322-9100 to report it.
If you are currently without power, you can help us avoid overloaded circuits and additional outages when power comes back on by:
Turning off your thermostats.
Turning off light fixtures and unplugging any appliances
Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on.
For those with power, conservation continues to help. You can:
Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, if possible.
Keep doors and windows closed to minimize hot air from escaping the home.
Unplug nonessential electronics as they still draw current.
Avoid using large appliances.
Please continue to monitor Austin Energy on Twitter (https://twitter.com/austinenergy), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/austinenergy/) and the AE website (https://austinenergy.com/ae/) for updates.
For additional information:
The City has scheduled a press conference for 2 PM today (accessible virtually at www.facebook.com/AustinHSEM) to address the ongoing severe weather and its impact on Austin and Travis County residents, utilities, and services. Governor Abbott will provide an update on the state's response to winter weather conditions and power outages at 3PM, usually broadcast on Texas Tribune, KXAN, and Spectrum.
For Cold Weather Information & Resources, please monitor local news and City social media accounts or visit:
Please continue to check on your neighbors, particularly the vulnerable and elderly. We will continue to send newsletters as needed to update you of new information. We also regularly post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AlisonAlterForAustin) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/ALTERforATX).
Below this message I also am sharing an announcement from Austin Pets Alive about assistance they have organized to help pet owners and instructions on how to proceed if you find a pet.
Sincerely,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10
Subscribe to the District 10 newsletter: https://app.getresponse.com/site2/district10?u=STGys&webforms_id=11159505
–––––––
Austin Pets Alive! has started a FB Group to help connect pet owners in need with those who can help. It already has 700 members and we're able to quickly get supplies, food, shelter, bedding, and other supplies to pet owners in need and we're connecting people to transportation, warm housing, and other urgent needs. If you are a pet owner in need or someone who can help a pet owner in need, please join this FB group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/123492509665784 or if you don't have Facebook, email us at cold@austinpetsalive.org or call us at (512)-961-6433
IF YOU FIND A PET - HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Austin Animal Center is currently closed through at least Friday. If you find a lost pet, please do the following:
1. Post on Austin Lost and Found Pets for Travis County and Williamson County Lost and Found Pets for Williamson county. For any other county, please use the FB search bar for the lost/found page for your area.
2. Keep the pet with you, indoors, if you are able to. If you need food or supplies, join the peer-to-peer support FB group 'APA Cold @ Emergency Response' and read the instructions. There are people who can deliver food and supplies to most areas.
3. If you CANNOT safely house pet INDOORS or in a warm location, join the peer-to-peer support FB group 'APA Cold @ Emergency Response' and read the instructions. There are people who are willing to house animals and who may be able to meet you or come to you if you are unable to travel.
4. If the pet is having a medical emergency, you should call 911 for help.
Over the next week or two, APA will be working around the clock to facilitate mutual aid to support neighbors helping neighbors. Please join us in working together to save lives during this catastrophic event!
