[Extreme Heat & Wildfire Readiness Press Conference on August 15, 2023.]
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GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION THAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO ALL OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU ARE WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH DISASTERS THIS SUMMER.
UH, THOSE DISASTERS AND INCIDENTS ARE EXACERBATED BY THE EXTREME AND HISTORIC HEAT THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
THESE DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IS PREPARE, IS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE TO FACE THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ARE NOW ON OUR 39TH DAY OF HEAT ABOVE A HUNDRED DEGREE, A HUNDRED DEGREES WITH LITTLE TO NO RAIN.
SO WE'RE AS VULNERABLE AS WE HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE THREAT OF WILDFIRE, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED A WILDFIRE DISASTER PROCLAMATION, AS HAVE SOME LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE STATE.
I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY TRAVIS COUNTY, JUDGE ANDY BROWN, AND WE ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TOGETHER ARE ALSO ISSUING A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND THAT'LL BE DONE LATER TODAY.
A DISASTER DECLARATION HELPS US TO BE FURTHER PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF A WILDFIRE.
AND IN THE EVENT OF WILDFIRE DAMAGE, IT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY TO ACCESS NECESSARY RESOURCES TO HELP IN ANY RECOVERY.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TODAY IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT A WILDFIRE FROM HAPPENING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU UPDATES ON THE CURRENT HEAT CONDITIONS, WILDFIRE, SAFETY PREVENTION, EVACUATION READINESS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE READY TO SUPPORT YOU, AND WE NEED YOU TO DO YOUR PART TO BE READY AS WELL.
RECENT TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER WINDS THAN NORMAL HAVE PUSHED OUR WILDFIRE RISK TO THE CRITICAL STAGE.
AUSTIN RANKS SIXTH IN THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT ARE AT RISK OF WILDFIRE.
THE TOP FIVE CITIES ARE ALL IN CALIFORNIA.
90% OF WILDFIRES ARE CAUSED BY HUMANS AND ARE PREVENTABLE.
NOW, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PARTICULAR CONCERNS AROUND OPEN SPACES AND PARTICULARLY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
OUR WILDFIRE PREVENTION TRAIN TEAMS ARE FOCUSED ON THESE AREAS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON PROVIDING MORE EMERGENCY SHELTER SPACE MEANS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ON RELOCATING PEOPLE TO SHELTERS AND HAVE THE SPACE TO DO SO IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE.
IN FACT, WE JUST RELOCATED MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE AND 15 PETS FROM AN ENCAMPMENT IN THE WEST BOULDER CREEK AREA TO THE CITY'S SOUTH BRIDGE SHELTER.
TODAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM, UH, OUR FIRE E M S, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POLICE AND O WE HAVE OTHERS AVAILABLE TO ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AS I INDICATED, THE CITY IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO ENSURE WE'RE ALL READY FOR WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE THROWS OUR DIRECTION.
SO I'M GONNA PASS IT ALONG NOW TO COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN, AND THEN OUR PUBLIC PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS WILL COME UP TO SHARE WITH YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE DONE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE PREPARED, JUDGE.
I'M TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN, AND I JUST WANNA THANK MAYOR WATSON, UH, FOR THE COLLABORATION FROM THE CITY DURING THIS INCREDIBLY ACTIVE SUMMER THAT WE'VE HAD ALREADY.
I WANNA THANK OUR HARDWORKING FIRE CREWS, ESPECIALLY THE TRAVIS COUNTY STAR FLIGHT TEAM, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY'RE FIGHTING FIRES ACROSS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND CENTRAL TEXAS.
THIS SUMMER, THIS COORDINATED RESPONSE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE SAW IN HAWAII THE GREAT DEVASTATION THAT WILDFIRES CAN HAVE, AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL THOSE IMPACTED FAMILIES AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE THERE.
HERE IN TEXAS, AS THE MAYOR SAID, GOVERNOR ABBOTT ISSUED A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 191 COUNTIES ACROSS TEXAS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING WILDFIRE RISK IN OUR STATE.
AND THIS INCLUDED TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO WE NEED TO JOIN AND ISSUE A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR TRAVIS COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND DOING SO ALLOWS US TO MORE QUICKLY RESPOND TO EMERGENCY EMERGING WILDFIRES AND GET RESOURCES NEEDED FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND ELSEWHERE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION, AND WE'VE
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BEGUN TO SEE THE IMPACTS IN THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING TRAVIS COUNTY.PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND HAD THEIR LIVES UPROOTED BECAUSE OF WILDFIRES ALREADY THIS SUMMER.
BUT TOGETHER WE CAN HELP KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE, PREVENT FUTURE WILDFIRES, AND BE PREPARED AS WE CAN.
IF THEY DO IMPACT US, WE NEED TO PREVENT FIRE WHEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE PREVENTION IS THE BEST THING TO DO.
SO PLEASE DON'T LIKE FIREWORKS.
DON'T FIRE UP THE GRILL AND DO MAKE SURE THAT CHAINS THAT ARE ATTACHING TRAILERS TO TRUCKS ARE PROPERLY FITTED AND NOT DRAGGING, UH, ALONG THE ROAD.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR TRAVIS COUNTY IS THAT WE'RE STANDING UP THE TRAVIS COUNTY IMPACT TEAM MADE UP OF COUNTY STAFF READY TO VOLUNTEER WITH SHORT NOTICE TO SUPPORT SHELTER EFFORTS IN AN EMERGENCY.
WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND PREPARING ALONG WITH THE CITY, UH, EMERGENCY E EVACUEE SHELTER LOCATIONS.
WE'VE GOT THE TRAVIS COUNTY EXPO CENTER ALREADY SET UP WITH COTS AND WATER AND A PLAN FOR FOOD AND VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF IT IF NEEDED.
WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE RED CROSS, A D R N AND OTHER DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS ON SUPPORTING OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS, AS WELL AS PRIVATE AND FAITH-BASED FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE SHELTERS IF NEEDED.
AND WE'RE DOING ALL THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
I'VE DIRECTED MY CHIEF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, ERIC CARTER, WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY TO REACH OUT TO ELECTRIC, ELECTRIC PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY TO ASK THEM IF THEY'RE ABLE TO SHUT OFF POWER IN CASE OF HIGH WINDS ENTERING THE COUNTY.
WE'LL KEEP THESE EFFORTS READY AND ON STANDBY, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE TO RESPOND TO A WILDFIRE, UM, OUR FIRE AND E M S TEAMS WILL GIVE MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP TOO.
SO PLEASE TAKE THE HEAT AND THE WILDFIRE RISK SERIOUSLY, MOST WILDFIRES ARE STARTED BY PEOPLE, SO DON'T START EVEN SMALL FIRES 'CAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
UM, FINALLY, THIS IS NOT ENDING TODAY.
THIS COULD VERY WELL CONTINUE FOR 2, 3, 4 MORE WEEKS OF THE SAME KIND OF HEAT AND DRY WEATHER.
IT WILL RAIN EVENTUALLY, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
SO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO KEEP US SAFE.
UM, I'M GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT IN SPANISH, KIND OF THE SAME THING THAT I JUST SAID.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN, AND I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF MARK MOLEN WITH TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT TWO.
IS THAT RIGHT? WE GOING ASK? WE I JUST, I MESSED THAT UP.
LET'S GO WITH AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF JOE BAKER FIRST.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT GONNA STAND NEXT TO YOU,
I DON'T THINK I SHOULD EITHER.
LEMME START OFF BY SAYING, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, UH, HONORABLE BROWN, JUDGE BROWN AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL, OUR CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS AND MYSELF, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP, UH, TAKING THE STANCE FROM GETTING THIS WORK, GETTING THIS MESSAGE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT MY QUESTION TO THE COMMUNITY IS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU IN THE EVENT WE HAVE A WILD LAND OR WILDFIRE IN YOUR COMMUNITY NOW, NOT YESTERDAY, NOT TOMORROW,
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BUT NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE TO PREPARE FOR NOT WHAT IF, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS.ARE WE READY? YOU CAN LEARN MORE ON HOW TO DO JUST THAT BY FOLLOWING READY, SET, GO PROGRAMS, AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE@ATXWILDFIRE.COM.
AND SOME OF THE KEY POINTS YOU WILL LEARN FROM THAT, FROM THAT WEBSITE IS, UH, IDEAS ON HOW TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM YOUR HOME THAT COULD, UH, FUEL THE WILDFIRE, UH, SUCH AS BRUSH AND DEAD VEGETATION LEAVES, AND OTHER STUFF THAT HAD COLLECTED IN YOUR GUTTERS, AS WELL AS REMOVING THOSE FLAMMABLE ITEMS LIKE PATIO FURNITURES AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR SECURED ON PROPERTY.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND, IN SOME CASES, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE SERVICE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT A FIRE APPARATUS IN FRONT OF YOUR DOOR AGAIN.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND BE PREPARED FOR AN EVENT.
SOMETHING HAPPENED AS THE WILDLAND FIRE.
SO DURING THESE TIMES OF EXTREME WILDFIRE RISK, WE MUST ALL DO OUR PART, AND YOU'RE GONNA HIT OUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE ALL MUST DO OUR PART TO PREPARE FOR A WILDFIRE.
SO RESIDENTS, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR SITU SITUATION AWARENESS.
THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS CURATED A WEBSITE TO KEEP EVERYONE AWARE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF YOUR PARTICULAR LOCATION.
YOU CAN GO TO ANOTHER WEBSITE THAT'S NAMED WILDFIRE AUSTIN.HUB.ARCGIS.COM, THAT'S WILDFIRE AUSTIN.HUB.ARCGIS.COM TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITION IN YOUR AREA FOR LOCATIONS YOU LIVING IN OR WORK IN.
AGAIN, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW TO AVOID THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE A SPARK.
THE GRASS, THE BRUSH, AND OTHER VEGETATION ARE INCREDIBLY DRY RIGHT NOW.
AND BE SURE THAT YOU ALL DISPOSE OF THOSE CIGARETTE PROPERLY.
THIS MEAN NOT TOSSING THEM OUT THE CAR ONE OR PULLING THEM OUT ON THE WOODEN DECK, AS WELL AS IN THOSE POTTED PLANTS, UH, I IMPORT IMPROPERLY DISCARDING THOSE CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE ONE OF THE TOP THREE CAUSES OF, OF IMPROPERLY DISPOSING FLAMING MATERIAL OR ONE OF THE TOP THREE CAUSES OF FIRES IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER PARK YOUR CAR ON GRASS.
TOSS THOSE DRY AND THOSE DRY FUELS COMBINED WITH HEAT, UH, FROM THE ENGINE AND OTHER EXHAUST COULD START A FIRE.
ENSURE, UH, LIKE THE JUDGE SAID, ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGE THAT YOU MAY HAVE USING YOUR THE TO BEHIND THOSE VEHICLES DO NOT DRAG THE GROUND POSTPONE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD START A WILDFIRE, SUCH AS MOURNED THE ALARM AND USING THOSE CHARCOAL GRILL.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE, THE MAYOR AND THE HONORABLE JUDGE AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY LEADERSHIP ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER OFFICER.
AGAIN, THIS MESSAGE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MARK WILLENBERG WITH, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY E S D NUMBER TWO, THE VILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND CURRENTLY, UH, MYSELF AND OUR DEPARTMENT ARE FULFILLING THE ROLE OF COUNTY RESOURCE COORDINATOR.
AND I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND THE COORDINATION OF WILDFIRE RESPONSE RESOURCES IN TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, SO THE TRAVIS COUNTY C R C OR THE COUNTY RESOURCE COORDINATION IS A SYSTEM OF COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT INCLUDE ALL OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS AND AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 1990S AS A RESULT OF WILDFIRE THREAT AND RESPONSE NEEDS.
THE SYSTEM IS USED TO ENSURE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR AN INCIDENT OR SENT WHILE MAINTAINING A BALANCE OF RESOURCES TO HELP COVER THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTY.
UM, THIS SYSTEM IS OBVIOUSLY PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME OR IN TIMES OF, OF A HIGH WILDFIRE THREAT.
UM, AND WE HAVE BEEN STAFFING THE C R C POSITION DAILY SINCE, UH, AUGUST THE SEVENTH.
SO LAST MONDAY, UM, FIRE CHIEFS FROM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY ESDS AND AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STAR FLIGHT HAVE BEEN MEETING EVERY MORNING AT NINE 30, COORDINATING RESOURCES AND DISCUSSING PREVIOUS, UH, DAY'S EVENTS, UH, WHAT FIRES WE'VE HAD, WHAT COORDINATION ISSUES WE'VE HAD, UH, AND WORKING DAILY ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THOSE, UH, COORDINATIONS AND RESPONSES.
UM, SO RESOURCES FROM TRAVIS COUNTY AND AUSTIN HAVE RESPONDED AND SUPPORTED TO MULTIPLE WILDFIRE INCIDENTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND HAVE SUPPORTED SEVERAL
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WILD WILDFIRE MISSIONS IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, INCLUDING BASTROP, HAYES, CALDWELL, UH, BLANCO, AND BURNETT.AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT ARE SUPPORTING T FMIS, WHICH IS OUR STATE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM.
UM, AND THEY ARE HELPING RESPOND TO FIRES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS AND TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE ENHANCED STAFFING LEVELS ALONG WITH THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE HAVE ADJUSTED FROM NORMAL STAFFING LEVELS TO ENHA ENHANCE STAFFING LEVELS, AND WE HAVE, UH, ALSO, UM, CHANGED OUR NORMAL STAFFING PRACTICES IN ORDER TO PUT MORE PEOPLE ON BRUSH TRUCKS AND OTHER TYPES OF RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT WILDFIRE RESPONSE.
UM, CURRENTLY IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WE HAVE ANYWHERE ON A DAILY BASIS FROM ABOUT 15 TO 19 BRUSH TRUCKS STAFFED AND READY TO RESPOND.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE OTHER VARIOUS TYPES OF EQUIPMENT THAT RESPOND, UH, TO WILDFIRES, ALSO STAFFED OR READILY AVAILABLE.
AND THAT, UH, RANGES FROM, UH, SMALL UTVS THAT CAN FIGHT FIRE, UM, SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT, UH, THAT IS, UH, VERY BENEFICIAL IN A WILDFIRE FIGHT.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, A HAND CREW STAFFED, UH, IN THE COUNTY THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO, TO RESPOND.
AND THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, RESOURCES DEPLOYED AROUND THE COUNTY THAT ARE PORTABLE REFILL STATIONS FOR THE STAR FLIGHT HELICOPTER TO BE ABLE TO REFILL THEIR BUCKET, UM, WHEN THERE'S NOT READILY, READILY AVAILABLE WATER FOR THEM TO DIP OUT OF.
UM, SO IN, IN SOME, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST WEEK, UH, TO BE VERY PREPARED.
AND ACTUALLY IT'S GONE BEYOND LAST WEEK.
UH, BUT THE, THE CONCENTRATED EFFORT HAS BEEN, UH, SINCE LAST WEEK TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND, UH, TO THE WILDFIRES.
WE HAVE BEEN COORDINATING THESE RESPONSES AND, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT.
THANK GOOD AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR KEN SNIPES WITH AUSTIN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
I WANNA START BY THANKING THE MAYOR AND JUDGE FOR BEING HERE WITH US TO HAMMER HOME THIS REALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE CHIEFS, UH, ALREADY, WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF FIRES IN OUR AREA OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
UH, AND YOU CAN HELP BY BEING PREPARED AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU CAN PRO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT WILDFIRES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN ALL HAZARDS DIGITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HUB.
AND, UH, THE WEBSITE FOR THAT IS READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
UM, THIS RESOURCE IS TO IS FOR EVERYONE TO HELP YOU GET READY BEFORE AN EMERGENCY, UH, AND THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES WILDFIRES.
YOU CAN ALSO ATTEND ONE OF OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POP-UP EVENTS, AND WE HAVE ONE TOMORROW.
UH, AND IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO HOSTING, UH, ANOTHER EVENT, UM, CALLED GET READY, CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
UH, THAT'S A FAIR, THAT WILL OCCUR ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT EVENT AS WELL AS THE POPUP EVENTS, YOU CAN, UH, GO TO READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
ONE THING WE WANNA REMIND PEOPLE OF IS THAT NOW, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE CHIEFS, IS THE TIME TO GET READY.
AND WE WANT YOU TO START BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU TAKE TIME TO MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, CHECK ON YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILIES, AND ESPECIALLY OUR OLDER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THOSE WHO MAY BE VULNERABLE.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE WITH DISABILITIES TO REGISTER FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE REGISTRY CALLED STEER.
THE STEER PROGRAM IS FREE, AND IT IS A REGISTRY THAT PROVIDES LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE IF WE KNOW IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT YOUR, AND WHAT RESOURCES YOU MAY NEED.
KNOWING WHEN TO EVACUATE SAVES LIVES.
IF YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBORS HAVE PHYSICAL OR MOBILITY LIMITATIONS, PLEASE REGISTER.
ANOTHER RESOURCE YOU COULD ALSO VISIT, UM, IS CALLED WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG, OR SIGN UP FOR TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY MESSAGING.
AND BE SURE TO CHOOSE WILDFIRE AS ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT YOU WISH, UH, TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FOR.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THE, THE, UM, INFORMATION THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ON WILDFIRE CONDITIONS, WE ALSO WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO SEE RECORD HEAT THIS SUMMER.
FOR THE LAST MONTH, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN LEADING A PILOT IN REPUBLIC SQUARE PARK, UH, TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN NEED, UH, DURING THE EXCESSIVE HEAT TIMEFRAMES.
SINCE THE PROGRAM HAS BEGUN, WE'VE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE.
AND LASTLY, I WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT OUR COOLING CENTERS ARE, ARE OPEN AS WELL.
YOU MAY GET INFORMATION ON OUR COOLING CENTERS AT, UM, AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/ALERTS, AND THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN 13 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
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CHIEF.MY NAME IS SCOTT PERRY, AND I'M AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH A P D.
UH, AS ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, HAVE ALREADY STATED, UM, SEEING THE FIRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED NOT ONLY CLOSE TO US AND OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS, UH, VERY HEART-WRENCHING FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE AS WELL AS PROPERTY.
SO NOW IS, UH, AS HAS BEEN STATED, THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME TO BE PREPARED.
UH, EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE, ARE AVAILABLE IS WHAT WE, THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL IS HERE TODAY.
KNOW HOW TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS AND KNOW WHAT TO DO IN CASE YOU OR YOUR FAMILY FIND YOURSELF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR A WILDFIRE.
UM, ALWAYS THINK ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND AS DIRECTOR SNIPES, UH, INDICATED, THINK ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CHECK ON THEM.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A WAY TO GET OUT IN CASE SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.
UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE FROM A P D IN THE EVENT OF A WILDFIRE IS THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, BOTH WITH FIRE AND WITH E M S.
WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.
IN THE EVENT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, YOU WILL SEE A P D OFFICERS GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN CASE WE HAVE TO MAKE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS OR NOTIFICATIONS.
UM, SECONDLY, YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR OFFICERS ON PA SYSTEMS DRIVING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, GIVING INSTRUCTIONS, CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHAT, UH, IS NEEDED FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP EVACUATE THEM OUT OF THEIR, THEIR, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE OFFICERS WORK IN TRAFFIC CONTROL, UH, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE, KEEPING THEM BACK, LETTING THE FIREFIGHTERS DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO MANAGE AND MITIGATE THE FIRES.
UH, WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, UH, ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOU TODAY.
THEY WILL ALL BE ON OUR, OUR WEBSITE AND THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH THOSE OUT.
SO THEN, UH, IF ANYTHING IS GOING ON, YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND HOW TO RESPOND.
UM, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS, IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU GET DIRECTION FROM ONE OF OUR AGENCIES, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS.
UM, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN KEEP YOU SAFE, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL, IS FOR YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO, WHETHER IT BE EVACUATE, MOVE AWAY, BACK UP FROM A SCENE.
UH, THAT IS WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ROB LUCR, UH, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, E M S.
UH, JUST A REMINDER, UH, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY E M S, UH, CONTINUES TO BE, UH, HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE RESPONSE AND PREVENTION OF WILDFIRES.
UH, WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THEIR PART, PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, AS WELL AS ACROSS TEXAS.
UM, IT, IT BEARS SAYING THAT, UH, AS WE ENTER THE WILDFIRE SEASON, AS WE, UM, ENCOUNTER WILDFIRES, THAT INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED.
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE PREPARED AND SHOULD VISIT WITH THEIR DOCTORS IF THEY'RE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE, TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE MEDICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, UH, THE IMPLICATIONS IF YOU EXPERIENCE OR YOU'RE HAPPY TO BE NEAR A WILDFIRE.
AGAIN, PREPARING, WEARING A MASK IF YOU, UH, HAPPEN TO BE NEAR ONE.
UM, AND AGAIN, SPEAKING TO YOUR PHYSICIAN TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED, UH, WITH MEDICATIONS AND OTHER THINGS.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT THIS IS A VERY HOT TIME OF YEAR.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO SEE EXCESSIVE HEAT.
WE CONTINUE TO HIT RECORDS, UH, FOR OFFICER TRAVIS COUNTY E M S FOR RESPONSE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES.
UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT EARLIER, STAY HYDRATED.
UM, AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE RISK OF FILE, EXCUSE ME, WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE RISK OF WHY ON FIRE, ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES, SO THAT IF YOU DO NEED TO EVACUATE, YOU ARE ABLE TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THAT AS WELL AS THE EXCESSIVE HEAT THAT YOU MAY ENCOUNTER.
PLEASE CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS WAS SAID BEFORE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE WILL NOT BE IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT IS FOCUSING ON HELPING ONE ANOTHER AND ENSURING THAT IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A VULNERABLE NEIGHBOR AND WORK WITH THEM, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, AND IN CASE OF A WILDFIRE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN TO ASSIST THEM IF NECESSARY, TO EVACUATE.
LASTLY, PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
THESE ARE TRAUMATIC INCIDENTS.
AGAIN, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR WHAT MAY OCCUR, UM, AND BE READY FOR WHATEVER INSTRUCTIONS YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.
PLEASE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR FRIENDS, AND YOUR LOVED ONES SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT MAY OCCUR.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR.
WELL, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE ARE IN A, I'M NOT TELLING ANYBODY ANY REAL NEWS.
WE'RE IN A VERY HOT TIME WITH RISK OF WILDFIRE.
AND WHAT WE, WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT HAVING THIS, UM, GATHERING AND THIS PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION
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TO CREATE FEAR.INSTEAD, WE'RE HAVING THIS SO THAT WE CAN EMPOWER PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT MIGHT COULD HAPPEN.
AND NOBODY WANTS IT TO HAPPEN.
WE WILL WANT, SO WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE ACTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO PREVENT SOMETHING BAD FROM HAPPENING.
UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL TAKE A FEW QUESTIONS, UH, FROM, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA.
UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, BRUCE MILLS PUT OUT A MEMO RECENTLY TALKING ABOUT HOW THE CITY FIRE UNION HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON HOW MUCH FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD MAKE AT A TIME WHEN WE OBVIOUSLY REALLY NEED FIREFIGHTERS.
HOW ARE Y'ALL WORKING TO KEEP 'EM? UM, WELL, OF COURSE THAT'S DEALING WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS ABOUT.
BUT, BUT, UM, WELCOME TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
UH, I'LL LET, UH, CHIEF MILLS DISCUSS THAT, BUT I'LL, I'LL PUT THAT THIS WAY.
THERE ARE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AUSTIN, UH, FIRE UNION.
UH, THERE'S ALSO, THERE WAS ALSO AN ARBITRATION THAT WAS CONDUCTED.
AND WHAT THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT FOR RIGHT NOW IS THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE UNION WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THE RULING IS OF THAT ARBITRATION.
UH, I HAVE NO QUESTION THAT THE DEDICATED FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS ABSOLUTELY ARE, ARE NOT LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY AND THE UNION HAVE A CONTRACT BEFORE THEY TAKE ACTION IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, IF WE WERE TO HAVE A WILDFIRE SITUATION, IN FACT, I THINK IT'S OFFENSIVE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS TO EVEN ASSUME SUCH A THING, AND I WOULD NEVER ASSUME THAT, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE MEDIA NOT ASSUME IT.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED BY THESE GREAT FIREFIGHTERS NOT ASSUME IT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE, MR. MAYOR.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MAUI, OF COURSE, IS JUST HORRIFIC.
AND THAT IS ITS OWN SITUATION, BEING ON AN ISLAND AND BEING WHAT IT IS.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, CELL PHONE SERVICE THAT WENT DOWN, PEOPLE'S INABILITY TO GET ANY INFORMATION OR DIRECTION FROM FIRST RESPONDERS WERE THOSE, WAS THAT ANYTHING THAT MAYBE PLAYED INTO WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY OR MADE YOU OPEN YOUR EYES ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN? WE'RE, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE HAVING THIS NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND WORKING WITH EACH OTHER IN ANTICIPATION OF US GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR WEEKS.
THIS IS THE, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT YOU, YOU, YOU REFERENCE THAT GOES ON.
UM, YOU, YOU JUST HEARD, UH, FROM THIS ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH REGARD TO OUR TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES, UH, UH, WELL, THEY'RE OUT THERE ALREADY TALKING AND, AND COMMUNICATING.
IF WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, OTHERS COME IN OR WE NEED TO GO HELP OTHERS IN SOME OTHER PLACE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DISASTER, THOSE JOINT AGREEMENTS ARE ALREADY FRONT OF MIND AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.
FRANKLY, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS EVENT RIGHT NOW TO DISCUSS WHAT, WHAT THE PUBLIC CAN DO TO HELP US PREVENT THIS IF WE WEREN'T FEELING LIKE WE ARE AS READY AS YOU CAN BE.
NOW, I WILL SAY THIS, YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN FROM WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PLACES, AND THESE PROFESSIONALS DO THAT.
UM, AN EMERGENCY IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO AVOID.
SO THE FIRST THING IS, THE JUDGE HAS INDICATED THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANNA TRY TO PREVENT IT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANNA PUT OUT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND ASK FOLKS TO ENGAGE IN PREVENTION ACTIVITIES.
THE SECOND IS HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT AT THE TIME THAT SOMETHING AN, AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS.
AND WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU IS THAT THE RESULTS OF AN EMERGENCY WILL BE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WOULD'VE BEEN OTHERWISE BECAUSE THESE PROFESSIONALS ARE PREPARING FOR JUST THAT.
UH, SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS DECLARATION DOES? SURE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY DECLARED THIS DISASTER, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW TRAVIS COUNTY AND AUSTIN BENEFIT FROM THIS? YEAH.
WELL, THE, THE, THE WAY THESE DECLARATIONS WORK, I, I KIND OF BREAK IT UP IN MY HEAD IN TWO WAYS, WHETHER OTHERS DO, I, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS IS, THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS THERE'S, THERE'S TWO ASPECTS TO IT, INCLUDING WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE.
THE FIRST IS KIND OF AN OPERATIONAL ASPECT TO IT, AND THAT IS WHAT, BY, BY DECLARING A DISASTER, DOES IT MAKE IT EASIER TO DO CERTAIN THINGS TO GAIN RESOURCES? CERTAINLY WITH THE STATE'S DECLARATION, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS THE ABILITY TO, TO, TO COORDINATE RESOURCES BETTER WITH REGARD TO
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LOCAL OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF IT.IT'S THINGS LIKE, IF WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING AND, BUT YET WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A RULE THAT SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON PURCHASING THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW, THAT WE CAN, WE CAN NOT GET IN OUR OWN WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE PURCHASING.
SO AGAIN, FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, EXCEPT FOR THINGS LIKE THAT, EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD PUT IN A DISASTER DECLARATION THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO, WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
UH, BUT WE WANT, WHAT THAT DISA DISASTER DECLARATION DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO NOT HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THINGS LIKE PROCUREMENT, UM, AND GET IN OUR OWN WAY GOING FORWARD.
THE SECOND, OF COURSE, THE SECOND THING THAT WHEN I THINK OF, OF THE DISASTER DECLARATION IS IT'S THINGS LIKE, UM, UH, REIMBURSEMENT ON EXPENSES, UH, AND, AND HOW WE QUALIFY TO GET REIMBURSEMENT, UH, WITH A DISASTER DECLARATION THAT YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO GET WITHOUT A DISASTER DECLARATION.
THAT'S NOT FRONT OF MIND RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S FRONT OF MIND IS BEING READY AND PREPARED OPERATIONALLY IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.
AND THE, I MEAN, THE OTHER BIG PIECE IS THAT IT ALLOWS THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY JUDGE, UH, TO DO THINGS MORE QUICKLY.
THE MAYOR WOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR A COUNCIL MEETING TO APPROVE A CERTAIN ACTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
SO IT LETS UNDER A DECLARATION, THE MAYOR AND THE JUDGE TAKE ACTION MUCH, MUCH QUICKER THAN OTHERWISE FOR COUNTY AND CITY RESOURCES.
THAT'S A REAL GOOD EXAMPLE OF OPERATIONALLY HOW WE, WE CAN MOVE MORE QUICKLY, JOE.
CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY WAS GOING ON AT REPUBLIC SQUARE? BECAUSE SOMEBODY MENTIONED HELPING PEOPLE THERE, BUT I DIDN'T GET A SENSE OF EXACTLY.
AGAIN, KEN SNIPES, HE, UH, DIRECTOR.
UM, SO WHAT'S GOING ON AT REPUBLIC SQUARE IS, UH, ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO, WE STARTED A PILOT PROJECT TO, UM, SUPPORT PEOPLE DURING EXTREME HEAT.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE'RE NOW CONTINUING ON WITH THAT EFFORT, UH, ON EXTREME HEAT DAYS.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE, WE'VE, UH, SET UP A COUPLE OF, UH, MISTING CANOPIES, UH, AND SHADE CANOPIES, UH, AND WE'RE PASSING OUT BOTTLES OF COLD WATER THERE FOR PEOPLE, UH, IN NEED OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO, UM, IT'S A, AS I SAID, IT'S A PILOT.
WE'RE STUDYING, UM, THE, UM, THE EFFICACY OF THE, OF THE PROJECT TO GET A BETTER SENSE FOR HOW THIS MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL, UH, GOING FORWARD, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT.
SO RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 6,000 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT.
MR. SNIPES, DO YOU KNOW, IS WATER RESTRICTIONS OF IMPACTING THOSE MISTING TENTS, OR HOW IS THAT WORKING WITH THE, WITH THE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE? IT'S NOT AT THIS TIME.
AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING, UH, WITH, UH, OUR PARTNERS AT WATER ON AND, UH, PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT.
BUT, UH, BUT AGAIN, UH, JUST REMEMBER THAT THIS IS, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE A NEED TO COOL THEMSELVES OFF BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT.
UH, IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS HAVE BECOME MAYBE A CONCERN AND MAYBE A POSSIBLE PLACE FOR WILDFIRES TO BE CREATED.
WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR MAYBE WEAK SPOT? IF YOU WANNA COME UP AND ADD ANYTHING THAT, UH, DIANA GRAIL ADD ANYTHING? A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS OUR WILDFIRE PREVENTION.
UM, GROUPS ARE PAYING SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO ENCAMPMENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID THAT AND, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE THERE.
SECOND IS, UH, WE ARE DOING, LIKE I INDICATED IN MY OPENING COMMENTS, WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE WHEN INTO SHELTERS SO THAT THEY'LL BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT IN AN ENCAMPMENT WHERE A FIRE MIGHT BREAK OUT.
AND AS I MENTIONED IN THE BOULDERING CREEK AREA, WE JUST, UH, REMOVED, UM, UH, OVER 70 PEOPLE AND 15 ANIMALS, UM, IN AN EFFORT TO DO THAT.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE, OF COURSE, UM, UH, GONE FORWARD ON WHAT WILL BE ABOUT 450 ADDITIONAL SHELTER BEDS.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE 300, THAT THERE'LL BE 300 OF THEM, UH, OPEN AND AVAILABLE AT THE MARSHALING YARD BY THE END OF THIS MONTH WITH ANOTHER 150 COMING ONLINE.
ONCE REPAIRS ARE DONE TO WHAT MANY OF US CONSIDER TO BE THE OLD SALVATION ARMY BUILDING THAT THE CITY HAS LEASED.
SO THAT WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, UM, UH, HELP PEOPLE A, NOT BE IN THIS HEAT, BUT B UH, BE OUT OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE IT MIGHT, UH, ENHANCE OR CREATE THE POSSIBILITY FOR A WILDFIRE.
BUT I'LL ASK DIANA GRAVE IF SHE HAS ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO ADD.
I THINK YOU COVERED IT, MAYOR.
DO YOU ALL FEEL LIKE IF THIS, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME SHE'S DONE THAT
DO YOU ALL FEEL LIKE THAT IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST AREAS MAYBE AUSTIN IS TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON? WELL, IT, IT'S A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT
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THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND IT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO AUSTIN, BUT IT IS ONE THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO.WE PAY ATTENTION TO IT, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WILDFIRE.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE GOTTEN INTO OFFICE, ONE OF MY PRIORITIES HAS BEEN THAT WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHELTER SPACE, BED SHELTER BEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND THAT'S FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, I, I FRANKLY, I CONSIDER IT TO BE INHUMANE FOR PEOPLE TO BE LIVING ON THE STREET AND IN PARKS AND IN WOODED AREAS IN 107 DEGREE HEAT.
UM, AND WE, WE NEED TO PROVIDE RESPITE IN THAT REGARD.
I ALSO KNOW THAT IT HELPS WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE, UH, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH, SHE BEDS, SHELTERS, UH, SHELTER BEDS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM, UH, INTO HOUSING MORE ROUTINELY BECAUSE OF THE, IF WE'RE PROVIDING THE SERVICES WE NEED TO PROVIDE.
BUT NO QUESTION THAT WHEN WE'RE FACED WITH THE WEATHER AND THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FACED WITH, UH, IT IS A, A RISK THAT WE WANT TO AVOID IF SOMEONE IS LIVING IN A WOODED AREA, CAMPING IN A WOODED AREA, AND, AND AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, SMOKING A CIGARETTE, IF THE CIGARETTES GET, DON'T GET PUT OUT THE RIGHT WAY BUILDING A FIRE.
WE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO USE THEIR GRILLS RIGHT NOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FOCUS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THERE, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A FOCUS.
JUDGE, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AT THE EXPO CENTER AND OTHER EVACUATION SITES, SHOULD FOLKS NEED TO USE THEM? YEAH.
SO ERIC CARTER IS IN CHARGE OF THOSE OPERATIONS, BUT THE EXPO CENTER HAS WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE BANQUET HALL.
IT'S THE AIR CONDITION PART OF THE EXPO CENTER, BASICALLY.
AND WE BROUGHT COTS OVER THERE, WATER OVER THERE.
AND ERIC, I BELIEVE, HAS WORKED OUT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE RED CROSS, A D R N, OTHERS THAT WILL HELP PROVIDE STAFFING AND FOOD THERE SHOULD WE NEED IT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY STAFF ARE, ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH PLANS TO STAFF, YOU KNOW, THAT PLACE OR OTHER PLACES AS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO EVACUATE FROM THEIR HOMES SPECIFICALLY.
I'M THE CHIEF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO REGARDS TO, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE EXPO, BANQUET HALL, WE, WE'VE GONE AHEAD AS A JUDGE SAID, WE'VE PUT RESOURCES IN THERE.
SO IF IT NEEDS TO BE OPEN IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION AS EITHER A RECEPTION CENTER OR AS A SHELTER, IT'S READY TO GO.
WHAT THE BIG PICTURE FOR EVERYBODY HERE IS, LIKE, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO BRING THOSE RESOURCES ONLINE ACROSS THE COUNTY, SO NOT JUST WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR, AND OUR BANQUET HALL.
ADD TO THAT, ALL THE CITY FACILITIES THAT THEY, THE TEAM THERE HAS BEEN WORKING ON TO GIVE OUR FIREFIGHTERS RIGHT, ACCESS TO THESE, UH, UH, SPOTS.
IF WE'VE HAVE TO EVACUATE ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY, IT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT.
UH, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK BY COUNTY STAFF TO GET THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY UP AND READY AGAIN.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT'S A TEAM EFFORT ACROSS CITY, COUNTY AND, AND MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY TO BEGIN TO BRING THESE RESOURCES ONLINE RIGHT IN, IN OUR EFFORTS TO BE READY IN CASE WE HAVE A, AN A WILDFIRE ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY.
SO, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WOULD THIS BE THE FIRST SUMMER THAT Y'ALL HAVE USED THE EXPO CENTER SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE? UH, WE'VE USED THE EXPO CENTER IN THE PAST FOR DISASTERS.
UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE IT LAST SUMMER FOR, UH, SHELTER.
WE DID USE THE SITE FOR RECEPTION CENTER.
AND, UH, REGARDING, UH, RE LET ME JUST, WE'RE GONNA DO ONE LAST QUESTION, THEN I'M GONNA ASK DIRECTOR SNIPES TO COME UP AND, UM, HAVE HIM WALK THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
REGARDING OUT OUTDOOR GRILLING, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE, UM, ARE Y'ALL JUST DISCOURAGING ALL GRILLING, OR IS IT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, FIRE ARE, ARE FIRES THAT DON'T PRODUCE ASH, OKAY.
LIKE, LIKE GAS GRILLS, PROPANE GRILL, OR IS IT ALL ALL OF 'EM? THE, THE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A POINT IN TIME WHERE, UM, IT'S BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
AND, BUT JUST SAY THAT TO YOURSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING THAT INCLUDES, BY THE WAY, DEALING WITH THE HEAT.
UH, CHECK ON NEIGHBORS, CHECK ON THE ELDERLY, CHECK ON PEOPLE THAT MAY NEED HELP.
AGAIN, IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTING A WILDFIRE, IT IS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
SO THERE'S JUST, UH, I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD YOU THINK YOUR GRILLING IS, THERE'S NOT A NEED FOR IT RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT TAKEOUT FROM A LOT OF GREAT BARBECUE, A LOT OF STATE PLACES.
YOU CATCH SOMEBODY GRILLING, DO THEY GET A TAKE? NO, NO, NO, NO.
I THINK IT'S OFFICIALLY BANNED COUNTY PARKS, THE USE OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER THINGS BESIDES PROPANE.
BUT AS THE MAYOR SAYS, LET'S JUST NOT DO ANY OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
I, ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE VISITS? YOU KNOW, LIKE ANY BARBECUE PLACES THAT, THAT ARE NO,
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NO, NO.KEEP DIGGING FOR THAT CONTROVERSY.
KEEP DIGGING FOR THAT CONTROVERSY.
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA SAY THAT, UM, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS LET'S BE LET, LET'S PROTECT EACH OTHER.
LET'S PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A, AS A COMMUNITY LIVING THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
WE NEED TO BE SMART, WE NEED TO USE COMMON SENSE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN TO BE, SORRY.
UH, LET ME ASK DIRECTOR SNIPES TO COME BACK UP, UM, BECAUSE I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT HE, UH, SO WELL PUT OUT.
AGAIN, WE WANNA REMIND PEOPLE, UH, IF YOU NEED HELP, UH, OR YOU NEED INFORMATION OR EDUCATION ON ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, YOU CAN GO TO READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
AND WE ALSO WANNA REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP WITH, UH, EVACUATION, UH, BECAUSE OF A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT, PLEASE GO TO THE STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE REGISTRY, ALSO KNOWN AS STEER AND REGISTER.
AND THEN LASTLY, YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THE WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG, UM, UH, WEBSITE TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY MESSAGING.
HE'D TELL HER HE WAS GONNA TAKE HER AWAY.