Dear Neighbors,
Many of you are suffering a second cold day without power. This is not acceptable in our city. I have been working tirelessly for years now to improve our cold weather infrastructure and I have continued that work this week during the storm. I want you to know what I am doing to get your power back on and to share information from City departments that you may find helpful.
In this email, you will find updates on these topics:
Power Restoration Timeline
Austin Energy's Outage Map
Water Service Update
Downed Power Lines
Avoiding Cold Load if you have Lost Power
Safety Info for Those Without Power
Overnight and Daytime Cold Weather Shelters
Update on Travel Conditions
Storm Debris Pickup
Property Damage
City Services and Curbside Trash Pickup
Assistance with Home Storm Cleanup
Press Conference Updates
Power Restoration Timeline:
I just spoke with Austin Energy leadership. They confirmed there are over 100 crews working to restore power across Austin, with additional crews arriving for mutual assistance. Despite the improved weather conditions, Austin Energy is now reporting that they are unable to provide a specific system-wide restoration estimate and full restoration is going to take longer than initially anticipated. I am not happy with this and I have shared my frustration with Austin Energy. I am doing all I can to encourage and support rapid restoration of power to all households.
Yesterday, AE was hopeful that restoration would be possible by Friday evening. However, over night we experienced more precipitation and more ice formed. This morning as crews could better visualize the network, AE determined the impacts were larger than anticipated. Crews are working to restore power with heavy equipment on saturated ground, with some areas impassable. For some, the homeowner’s equipment needs to be repaired by an electrician before power can be restored. The complex nature of the restoration process also means that to proceed safely takes time.
Some may remain without power beyond Friday at 6 PM and we do not have a definite end time. If you remain without power and do not feel comfortable or safe in your home with rising temperatures, I would recommend seeking alternative arrangements for this evening.
Clearly, we have much more work to do to understand why our power infrastructure is not meeting our community’s needs, and I have requested a briefing on Tuesday that will be one of many ongoing conversations about our city’s emergency preparedness and response.
Austin Energy has released the following statement on power restoration:
While weather conditions have greatly improved, Austin Energy has determined we are unable to provide a specific system-wide restoration estimate. Based on what we knew at the time, we felt fairly confident with our initial estimate of restoration. However, more ice than anticipated occurred as a result of this storm. On-site inspections performed across the city have revealed the full extent of damage. Additionally, the majority of the outages from this winter storm are complex involving heavy construction equipment in areas that are sometimes impassable due to downed trees and branches. As an added challenge, we’re also continuing to experience repeated outages meaning ice, trees and tree limbs continue to knock out power to the same circuits crews just restored. Many of the issues include damages to equipment on the homeowner side. Some customers may need to hire licensed electricians to make those repairs before Austin Energy can safely restore power to their home. Crews are also being extra careful to avoid sheets of ice, icicles and tree branches that may snap back as they thaw. As a result, full restoration will take longer than initially anticipated.
We understand this makes an already challenging situation even more difficult. We have 100+ crews and more headed to our area in the coming hours to turn the power back on. We are grateful for the assistance of neighboring utilities who are providing much needed assistance. We appreciate the patience of our customers as our lineworkers brave these conditions and work with the rest of our staff to restore power.
Austin Energy's Outage Map:
Some of you have brought to my attention that there are ongoing issues with the Austin Energy Outage Map and shared that your outage is no longer registering online. I realize this was a big issue during Storm Uri and, while I understand updates were made they clearly did not work as planned.
I raised this issue with Austin Energy and received this update:
Due to the high number of customers trying to report power outages, Austin Energy’s system isn’t allowing some people to submit through their outage map or by text. If you see a large outage on the map near your home, Austin Energy is likely already aware that your house is without power. You can still call their outage line at (512) 322-9100, but be aware that there are long wait times due to the high volume of calls.
Water Service Update:
I spoke with Austin Water leadership this afternoon and our water supply is in good shape. Austin Water has asked us to share this information in response to rumors to the contrary:
We've heard there are rumors flying that Austin Water plans to shut off water. That is not correct. Austin Water's treatment plants are currently operating at normal levels & meeting the community's water demands. Work continues in Southwest Austin as crews keep backup power generation flowing to several pump stations/lift stations during intermittent power outages. We've also delivered water to a small pocket of 15 homes that have been directly affected. We encourage all of our customers to consider cutting back on water usage. This will help ease demand on the system while we work through intermittent power outages.
Note the small pocket of homes are in District 10 and we are monitoring the situation.
Please also note that Travis County Water District 10 and their announcements do NOT apply to any Austin Water customers.
Downed Power Lines:
Assume downed power lines are energized, and never touch a downed line or a tree limb making contact with it. Call (512) 322-9100 to report a downed line, and call 911 if there is an imminent fire risk or other danger.
Avoiding Cold Load if you have Lost Power:
When power is restored, circuits can become overloaded because of lights, electronics and thermostats left on prior to the outage. This is called cold load pickup and can cause a second outage.
If you have lost power, help avoid cold load pickup by:
Turning off your thermostats.
Turning off or unplugging any fixtures or appliances.
Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on.
Safety Info for Those Without Power:
Never run a vehicle inside an attached garage, even with open doors.
Do not use your oven or stove to heat your home or use generators, gas or charcoal grills, or camp stoves indoors.
If utilizing a space heater, opt for a model with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements. Keep the device uncovered and at least three feet away from flammable materials like curtains or blankets and the cord in a position that is neither a tripping hazard nor under carpets or rugs.
Ensure your fireplace, wood stove or other combustion heater is up to code and the ventilation is adequate.
Opt for battery-powered flashlights rather than candles. If candles are your only available source of light, don't leave them unattended.
If at all possible, use a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Overnight and Daytime Cold Weather Shelters:
Overnight Cold Weather Shelters are activated again for this evening. Shelter registration will take place at 505 Barton Springs Rd. from 6-8 pm. If you need assistance getting to shelter registration, or to an alternative warm and safe location, dial 3-1-1 or (512) 974-2000 to request transportation. Call (512) 305-4233 for more shelter information.
I will share tomorrow's Daytime Warming Center locations as soon as I have them.
Update on Travel Conditions:
The last reports indicate that road conditions are improving and travel will be safer than the previous two days. Drivers should still proceed with caution if traveling, and avoid bridges or overpasses, as icy conditions are still present. There are still reports of some signal and light outages, and downed trees and debris in roadways. Less-traveled country or county roads may have icier conditions As temperatures continue to rise, more routes will be accessible and travel will be safer. Find updated road conditions at drivetexas.org.
Storm Debris Pickup:
As the ice melts today, please be alert for falling ice or branches. Many of you have asked about City pickup of fallen debris.
Austin Resource Recovery customers with small branches smaller 5 feet under 3 inches in diameter can set them in stacks with their weekly collection. Please allow Austin Resource Recovery workers some time to resume their work and catch up on previous pickups as driving conditions improve.
Anyone with larger items should submit a storm service request through the 3-1-1 app or by calling 3-1-1 or (512) 974-2000. The “Storm Debris Collection” request category can be found at the top of the 3-1-1 app under “Trending Requests”. Here are the instructions we received from Austin Resource Recovery for large debris:
Brush should be 5-15 feet in length.
Tree trunks more than 8 inches in diameter should be 3 feet long or less.
Cut ends should face the street.
Stack loosely along the curb in one row, not more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet.
Do not block the sidewalk.
Do not extend into the street.
To prevent damage to your property, keep items 5 feet away from your trash cart, mailbox, fences or walls, water meter, telephone connection box and parked cars.
Do not place any items under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
Items will not be collected if they are in an alley or in front of a business or a vacant lot.
For those who can not physically handle their storm debris, please see the “Assistance with Home Storm Cleanup” section below.
I have reached out to Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) Director Ken Snipes to see if we can facilitate brush pickup in areas of District 10, like Emergency Service District (ESD) 4, that are high wildfire risk and do not receive regular ARR service, but do benefit from ARR brush services as part of our Austin Fire Department/ESD 4 partnership. I also will work with ARR and Austin Parks and Recreation to address fallen brush in our greenbelts and parks that can pose a wildfire hazard in warmer and dryer weather.
Property Damage:
If you have experienced property damage as a result of the storm, this article provides some guidance on documenting the damage and filing an insurance claim: https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-02-02/property-damaged-in-the-winter-storm-heres-what-you-should-do-to-file-an-insurance-claim
City Services and Curbside Trash Pickup:
City operations will resume normal hours tomorrow. Limited curbside trash/recycling/compost collections have resumed. Please allow Austin Resource Recovery workers some time to catch up on previous pickups as conditions improve. Carts, bulk, and brush items from missed pickups should be left at the curb. Collections will continue into the weekend, and normal operations will resume on Monday.
Assistance with Home Storm Cleanup:
The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) has partnered with Travis County and the City of Austin to help those with physical and financial limitations who need help cleaning up from the storm. Anyone in Travis, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, or Williamson counties who needs cleanup help can submit a request at link.adrn.org/ws-cleanup-request or visit ADRN.org. Volunteer teams from local churches will receive that information and coordinate with you to help with the work. If you’d like to support ADRN disaster response efforts, you can donate online at adrn.org/ws2023.
Press Conference Updates:
If you are able to access video streaming, you can also tune in to a joint press conference hosted by the City, County, Austin Energy, and Austin Water today at 5 pm for further updates. You can also access a recording of a press conference hosted this morning here.
Stay warm and safe.
Regards,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10
