[Current Frigid Weather Conditions Update]
[00:00:07]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR TUNING INTO THIS, AND THANK YOU TO THE MEDIA, UH, OUR PARTNERS IN THE MEDIA THAT ARE HERE TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT AND BE BETTER ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, LAST NIGHT WE EXPERIENCED RECORD BREAKING LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
OUR THERMOMETER SANK DOWN TO THE TEENS AND OUR FEEL LIKE TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.
THE TEMPERATURE AT AUSTIN CAMP MAYBERRY REACHED 16 DEGREES, WHICH BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 19 DEGREES THAT WAS SET IN 1944.
YESTERDAY, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPGRADED THE, UH, WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TO A WINTER STORM WARNING.
SO WE WENT FROM AN ADVISORY TO A WARNING, AND ALSO THE, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17TH AT 10:00 AM SO WE'RE UNDER A HARD FREEZE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE 17TH AT 10 O'CLOCK.
AS WE ANTICIPATED, THE COMBINATION OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND WINTERY PRECIPITATION CREATED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITION.
BUT AS THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, RICHARD MENDOZA WILL SHARE WITH MORE DETAIL.
UH, HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'RE PREPARED AND WE TREATED ABOUT 30 LOCATIONS ALL AROUND AUSTIN WITH A SPECIAL BRINE THAT'S DESIGNED TO PREVENT ICE ACCUMULATION.
THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE, PLEASE, EVERYONE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO AVOID ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL AND STAY INDOORS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL AND STAY INDOORS IF YOU CAN.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
LAST NIGHT, OUR COLD WEATHER OVERNIGHT SHELTERS WELCOMED 400 PEOPLE AND SEVEN DOGS, GIVING THEM ALL A WARM PLACE TO STAY.
DURING THIS ARCTIC BLAST, UH, COUNTY JUDGE BROWN AND I VISITED TWO OF THOSE SHELTERS THIS MORNING, VISITED NOT ONLY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAFFING THOSE SHELTERS AND, AND HELPING, UH, OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS THROUGH THIS COLD SNAP, UH, BUT ALSO WITH MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE, UH, TEMPORARY RESIDENTS IN THOSE SHELTERS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, AND I THINK THE JUDGE WOULD AGREE WITH ME, THINGS ARE MOVING VERY EFFICIENTLY, SMOOTHLY, AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES CURRENTLY, FORECAST CALL FOR MORE RECORD BREAKING PERIODS OF PROLONGED SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 10 TO 15 DEGREES WITH SOME AREAS IN THE REGION POSSIBLY REACHING NEGATIVE WINDSHIELDS.
THE LOWEST WINDSHIELDS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY MORNING.
IF WINDSHIELDS DIP BELOW ZERO DEGREES, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MAY NEED, UH, THE ISSUANCE OF A WIND CHILL WARNING, BRINGING WITH IT AN INCREASED RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE FOR THOSE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS.
AGAIN, IF YOU CAN STAY INDOORS, PLEASE DO THAT.
AUSTIN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR KEN SNIPES, AGAIN, SOMEONE YOU'LL HEAR FROM IN JUST A MINUTE, UM, HE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW ANYONE NEEDING ACCESS TO COLD WEATHER SHELTERS CAN DO THAT.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN HELP GET THE INFORMATION OUT AND KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING IN A, A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR THOSE PLANNING TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE AUSTIN AIRPORT.
THE AIRPORT REMAINS OPEN AND HAS CONTINUED NORMAL OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS WEATHER EVENT.
AIRPORT RUNWAYS ARE CLEAR, THEY'RE SAFE, AND THEY'RE IN USE.
HOWEVER, SOME FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
PASSENGERS, PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE AIRLINES, THE AIRLINE THAT YOU'RE FLYING WITH, UH, FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE FLIGHT INFORMATION SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND WE RECOMMEND TRAVELERS CHECK ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE AIRPORT, AND, AND YOU SHOULD ALSO PLAN TO ARRIVE AT LEAST TWO AND A HALF HOURS EARLY FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS AND THREE HOURS EARLY FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DURING THIS PERIOD.
IMPORTANTLY, ERCOT HAS ISSUED ANOTHER ENERGY CONSERVATION APPEAL FOR TOMORROW FROM SIX TO NINE IN THE MORNING.
THERE'S ANOTHER ENERGY CONSERVATION APPEAL THAT'S BEEN MADE BY ERCOT FOR TOMORROW MORNING FROM SIX TO NINE IN THE MORNING.
REMEMBER, UH, AND, AND AUSTIN, UH, GENERAL MANAGER, AUSTIN ENERGY'S GENERAL MANAGER, BOB KAHN
[00:05:01]
WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS IN A MORE MOMENT.BUT REMEMBER, ERCOT MANAGES THE STATEWIDE GRID.
AUSTIN AND AUSTIN ENERGY IS PART OF THAT STATEWIDE GRID.
SO WE HAVE TO LISTEN IF THERE'S EVER GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF ROLLING OUTAGE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE TO WHEN ERCOT WOULD CALL THOSE.
SO WHEN THEY, WHEN ERCOT CALLS FOR CONSERVATION MEASURES, WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THOSE.
AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, UM, GENERAL MANAGER CON WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IN JUST A SECOND.
ONCE AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE REMEMBER TO BOOKMARK AND CHECK AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/ALERTS AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/ALERTS AND TUNE INTO THE LOCAL NEWS STATIONS FOR THE MOST UPTODATE INFORMATION.
FINALLY, AGAIN, I REITERATE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO GET EMERGENCY ALERTS BY PHONE, BY TEXT, OR EMAIL@WARRENCENTRALTEXAS.ORG.
AND NOW I'LL INVITE TRAVIS COUNTY, JUDGE, UH, ANDY BROWN, UP TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA START OUT BY THANKING THE MAYOR AND, AND THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF THAT'S WORKING AT THESE SHELTERS THAT WERE OPEN.
LAST NIGHT WE VISITED WITH, UH, GREG, A CITY EMPLOYEE AND, AND, UH, MARK, SOMEONE WHO WORKED AT THE MONT TOPLESS SHELTER WHO'S WORKED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND FROM VISITING WITH THE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE, SOUNDS LIKE, UM, IT WAS WARM ALL NIGHT.
THINGS WENT AS, UH, DESIRED TO BE AND FROM THE FOLKS THAT WE TALKED TO THAT WERE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE CITY SERVICES THAT WERE VERY THANKFUL THAT IT WAS, UM, A NICE WARM, SAFE PLACE TO BE.
THEY HAD ALREADY SERVED THEM BREAKFAST THIS MORNING, THEY WERE WORKING ON ON LUNCH, UM, UPCOMING AFTER OUR VISIT.
UM, JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT IF YOU CAN STAY HOME TODAY AND, UH, PLEASE DO SO BECAUSE THE ROADS, WHILE UM, MANY OF THEM ARE PASSABLE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMERGENCY CREWS, UH, ARE ABLE TO BE OUT THERE THAT WERE NOT CAUSING UNNECESSARY WRECKS THAT CAUSE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON OUR EMERGENCY CREWS.
SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAY HOME.
UM, TRAVIS COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE CITY, IS STILL TREATING AND MONITORING ROADS.
I THINK WE TREATED A LOT OF THE BRIDGES OVERPASSES, KIND OF SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY LAST NIGHT, AND, UM, STILL FOCUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES ARE ARE ICE FREE.
UM, WE'VE DECIDED TO SHUT TRAVIS COUNTY PARKS, SO YOU CAN'T GO TO HAMILTON POOL TODAY TO SWIM, UH, JUST OUT OF THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND, UM, DON'T WANT TO CREATE EXTRA BURDENS THERE.
SO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, TRAVIS COUNTY PARKS ARE CLOSED.
UM, WE'LL REOPEN PROBABLY WHEN FREEZING CONDITIONS, UH, GO AWAY.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KEN SNIPES, I THINK, YEAH, KEN'S HERE.
KEN SNIPES, HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR.
THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER REMAINS ACTIVATED.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF, ALONG WITH TRAVIS COUNTY'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TRAVIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM AUSTIN, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, HUMAN RESOURCES POLICE, FIRE, EMS, CAP, METRO PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS AND RECREATION, AUSTIN LIBRARIES, HOME HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICE, AND AUSTIN ENERGY ARE HERE AND READY TO RESPOND.
OTHERS ARE ON STANDBY AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW, OUR FOCUS IS ON MONITORING THE WEATHER IMPACTS THAT ARE IMPACT THAT ARE HERE IN OUR AREA.
OUR PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WE ARE ENSURING MAJOR ROADWAYS HAVE BEEN TREATED AS YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR, FOR CONTINUED ACCESS TO OUR HOSPITALS, UH, AND ACCESS FOR OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
COLD WEATHER SHELTERS REMAIN ACTIVATED.
THEY WILL BE ACTIVATED THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
SHELTER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE NEEDING A WARM PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.
REGISTRATION FOR OVERNIGHT SHELTER IS FROM FIVE TO 8:00 PM THAT HAPPENS AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, LOCATED AT 5 0 5 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
TRANSPORTATION TO A SHELTER WILL BE PROVIDED AFTER REGISTRATION.
ANYONE NEEDING SHELTER AFTER 8:00 PM CAN CALL 3 1 1 OR FIVE ONE TWO NINE SEVEN FOUR 2000.
AGAIN, THAT'S 5 1 2 9 7 4 2000 TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE.
SINCE SATURDAY, 32, SERVICE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO AUSTIN'S 3 1 1, UH, BY RESIDENTS REQUESTING SHELTER SERVICE.
AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS RESPONDED TO A HANDFUL OF CALLS OVERNIGHT FOR COLD EXPOSURE
[00:10:01]
AND ALL PATIENTS WERE TRANSPORT TRANSPORTED OVERNIGHT TO SHELTERS.WE ARE HEARING REPORTS THAT IN SOME CASES SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE BEING PICKED UP IN NEAR HYPO HYPERTHERMIC, EXCUSE ME, UM, CONDITIONS.
SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER GETTING TO A SHELTER EARLY.
WHEN PEOPLE CALL FOR A RIDE TO SHELTER, IN MOST CASES, WE'RE ABLE TO PICK THEM UP WITHIN AN HOUR, AND THEN SOME PEOPLE WE'RE PICKING THEM UP MUCH FASTER THAN THAT.
WE WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE URBAN LEAGUE, THE CAP, UH, CAP METRO AND AUSTIN 3 1 1 FOR HELPING TO MANAGE THIS PROCESS AS WELL AS FOLKS FROM THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
OVER 400 PEOPLE USED OUR COLD WEATHER SHELTERS WITH PROLONGED FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
THE SHELTERS ARE NOW OPERATING FOR 24 HOURS THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.
ANYONE NOT ALREADY REGISTERED WHO NEEDS UH, SHELTER SERVICE OVERNIGHT CAN REGISTER AT ONE TEXAS CENTER.
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO PLEASE STAY INDOORS AND DO NOT VENTURE OUT UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO.
THE TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE A REAL THREAT.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE PROVISIONS FOR YOUR HOME AND FOR YOUR FAMILIES.
GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES FOR YOUR EMERGENCY KITS.
PLEASE BE SENSIBLE AGAIN ABOUT YOUR NEEDS, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NON-PERISHABLE FOOD SUPPLIES.
MAKE SURE YOU ALSO HAVE FLASHLIGHTS AND BATTERIES IN YOUR HOME, AS WELL AS WARM BLANKETS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THANK YOU KEN, AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS CREWS WORKED OVERNIGHT TO ENSURE OUR ROADS ARE SAFE FOR OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND OUR CITY SAFELY.
OUR FIELD STAFF ARE WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFTS, ROTATING SHIFTS STARTING YESTERDAY MORNING, AND ARE PRETREATING OUR MAJOR BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WITH AN ANTI-ICING AGENT.
OUR SIGNAL CREWS AND TECHNICIANS ARE ALSO MOBILIZED TO RESPOND TO ANY SIGNAL OUTAGES, AND WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE ROAD CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT TODAY.
AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE NO REPORTS OF CITY ROAD CLOSURES.
WE HAVE 12 STREET AND BRIDGE CREWS MOBILIZED AND GOING OUT AND RETREAT ROADS AND BRIDGES AS NEEDED.
WE'VE RESPONDED TO NINE WINTER WEATHER RELATED WORK REQUESTS AND PRETREATED AND RE-TREATED 36 HIGH PRIORITY BRIDGES WITH OVER 500 GALLONS OF A BRINE SOLUTION.
WE'VE CURRENTLY HAD TWO SIGNALS IN FLASH FOR NON WEATHER RELATED PURPOSES.
ONE WAS CRASH RELATED, ANOTHER DUE TO THE CONTRACTOR.
I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT WE RESTORED OPERATIONS TO THOSE SIGNALS THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE OBSERVED LIGHT DRIZZLE IN ICY CONDITIONS ON MOSTLY ON OUR ELEVATED ROADWAYS.
SO WE CONTINUE TO URGE FOLKS TO ONLY TRAVEL WHEN NEEDED.
AND IF SO, ENSURE THAT YOU DRIVE SLOWLY AND LEAVE AMPLE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU.
IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER ICY CONDITIONS ON THE ROADWAYS, REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND AVOID SUDDEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATION IF YOU GO INTO A SKID STEER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SKID.
BUT BE CAUTIOUS NOT TO OVER STEER.
PUBLIC WORKS HAS ALSO PURCHASED ADDITIONAL BACKUP BATTERIES AND BACKUP GENERATORS TO MAINTAIN SIGNAL OPERATIONS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO LOSE POWER TO THOSE SIGNALS.
HOWEVER, IF YOU COME ACROSS A DARK SIGNAL, WE ASK THAT YOU TREAT IT AS A FOUR-WAY, STOP AND KNOW THAT OUR SIGNAL CREWS WILL BE RESPONDING TO RESTORE THAT SIGNAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT ENDS MY REPORT AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO GENERAL MANAGER BOB CONN WITH AUSTIN ENERGY.
BOB CONN, GENERAL MANAGER AUSTIN ENERGY.
SO WE'RE SEEING A VERY FEW OUTAGES ACROSS OUR 437 SQUARE MILE SERVICE TERRITORY.
UH, WE ACTUALLY ARE GONNA SET A NEW WINTER PEAK FOR AUSTIN ENERGY TODAY, AND MAYBE TOMORROW TOO, AND ANOTHER NEW ONE.
BUT OUR PREVIOUS PEAK WAS 2,630 MEGAWATTS, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE HOVERING AT ABOUT 2,760.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
AS THE WEATHER DEVELOPS, I WANT TO THANK THE CREWS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE FROM AUSTIN ENERGY AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF TO RESPOND TO OUTAGES IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER.
THIS IS DIFFICULT, DANGEROUS WORK, AND OUR CREWS KNOW OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON GETTING POWER RESTORED AS QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.
SO LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ERCOT COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, AS, AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT
[00:15:01]
THERE'S GONNA BE A CONSERVATION APPEAL AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING FROM SIX TO NINE.UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT RECORD BREAKING DEMAND AT ERCOT AND LOW WIND IS EXPECTED, WHICH CAN CAU CAUSE ISSUES WITH RELIABILITY.
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY USE IF SAFE TO DO SO.
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE ERCOT GRID, VISIT ERCOT.COM.
SO LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT A FEW CONSERVATION TIPS.
UH, PLEASE LOWER YOUR THERMOSTATS BY A FEW DEGREES.
IF YOU HAVE A FIREPLACE, USE IT TO HEAT YOUR HOME INSTEAD OF CRANKING UP THE THERMOSTAT.
WHEN NOT IN USE, REMEMBER TO CLOSE THE FLU SO THE THE COLD AIR DOESN'T COME ON IN OR WARM AIR DOESN'T ESCAPE.
AND KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS CLOSED TO MINIMIZE THE HOT AIR FROM ESCAPING THE HOME.
DO NOT USE THE OVEN TO HEAT YOUR HOME.
YOU CAN FIND MORE CONSERVATION TIPS@AUSTINENERGY.COM SLASH WINTER.
AND I THINK THE MAYOR WAS GONNA PICK UP.
AND, AND I THANK ALL THE PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE REPORTED FOR US, UH, HERE THIS MORNING.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO REMEMBER.
WE'RE STILL IN THIS COLD SNAP, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND.
WE'VE BEEN REITERATING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UH, TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE, PETS, PLANTS AND PIPES, PEOPLE, PETS, PLANTS AND PIPES.
AND, UM, UH, IT'S NOT TOO LATE IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE CERTAIN THINGS ON YOUR PIPES.
THE FACT THAT WE, YOU HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
SAME THING WITH PLANTS, BUT STAY, THAT'S, THAT'S A KEY PART OF ALL THIS.
THE SECOND STRONG MESSAGE IS THAT IF THAT YOU SHOULD CONSERVE ENERGY, UM, REDUCE YOUR TEMPERATURES BY, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF DEGREES ON YOUR THERMOSTAT.
AND AS BOB JUST POINTED OUT, UH, DO THE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE SUNLIGHT COMING INTO THE HOUSE, OPEN YOUR CURTAINS AND DRAPES SO THAT THAT SUNLIGHT YOU GET, THAT NATURAL HEAT THAT'S COMING IN AND ON THOSE SIDES OF YOUR HOUSE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT OR YOU'RE DWELLING, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CLOSE THOSE CURTAINS AND D DRAPES SO YOU HAVE LESS, UM, UH, ESCAPE OF THE HEAT, DO THE SAME THING, UH, BY KEEPING DOORS CLOSED A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE HEAT ESCAPING THAT WAY, BUT PLEASE CONSERVE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE POWER THAT WE WANT.
AND THEN THE FINAL STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE WANNA MAKE IS THAT IF YOU CAN'T, IF YOU CAN STAY INSIDE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE, PLEASE STAY INSIDE.
UH, IT IS VERY, VERY COLD AND IT MAY BE DECEPTIVE OF HOW COLD IT IS SO THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A, IN A, IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE, YOU'RE REACTING TO THE COLD BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
UH, SO IF YOU CAN STAY INDOORS, PLEASE STAY INDOORS.
WE ARE GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT YOU, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON, UH, THEY'RE, WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LEADERSHIP.
UH, THE, THE CITY MANAGER IS HERE WITH US.
WE ALSO HAVE LEADERSHIP FROM POLICE, FIRE AND EMS THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
I WANT START WITH, UH, CHILDREN'S, WE SAW THEY GOT ACTIVATED ACTUALLY SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY.
THEY'RE GOING TUESDAY MORNING, BUT OTHER CONVERSATIONS BEING HAD ABOUT POSSIBLY
AND I'LL, I'LL LET, UM, WHERE HE IS.
KEN, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT? AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I'LL SAY ALONG THOSE LINES IS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN REC CENTERS, UM, WE, THAT TYPICALLY THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING GOING ON IN THOSE REC CENTERS, BUT WHAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IS MAKING SOME DETERMINATIONS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL IMPACT IT AS WE KEEP THESE OPEN.
UM, AND WHEN THAT, IF THE DECISION IS MADE, THAT WE WILL KEEP THEM OPEN, UH, WHICH I THINK IS PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
IF, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE CANDID ABOUT IT, UM, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL MAKE SURE, UH, THAT PEOPLE GET PROMPT NOTICE AND WE WILL WORK TO GET ALL THAT NOTICE OUT TO EVERYBODY.
KEN, YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? YES, SIR.
I THINK THE MAYOR SAID WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.
UH, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEATHER.
WE MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING THERE AND THE THRESHOLDS THAT WE HAVE FOR, UH, OPENING THE, OR CLOSING OR HOLDING SHELTER, UH, UH, SHELTER SERVICES OVER.
UM,
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT IS THE CITY DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THAT? I KNOW PREFERENCE IT IS A HOLIDAY DAY, OF COURSE.
SO USAGE MIGHT BE LESS, BUT WHAT, WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE THE CITY DOING TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PREPARE FOR THAT AND MAKING TURN OFF LIGHTS? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, STUART RILEY, OUR, OUR PERSON AT SOBER FACILITIES COORDINATES WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS FAR AS REDUCING LOAD LOAD.
[00:20:01]
AND, AND YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT.YOU KNOW, TODAY BEING A HOLIDAY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF, YOU HAVE A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT AREN'T BEING OCCUPIED.
AND WITH REGARD TO CITY BUILDINGS, THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO CERTAINLY THE CASE.
AND, AND SO WE KNOW THAT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS, THEY DO LITTLE THINGS TO MAKE A, A BIG DIFFERENCE IF YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF BIG BUILDINGS.
THEY SAID TUESDAY MORNING AND WEDNESDAY MORNING GONNA RIGHT.
SO A ACTUALLY THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING PRETTY GOOD.
WE'VE HAD VERY FEW WEATHER RELATED INCIDENTS.
THE THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND, SOME OF THE CIRCUITS GET OVERLOADED AND A FUSEL BLOW, AND, AND WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THOSE, AND WITHIN AN HOUR WE REPLACE THOSE AND THEN WE REDISTRIBUTE THE POWER OVER DIFFERENT LINES SO THE CIRCUITS DON'T GET OVERLOADED.
BUT IF, BUT IF, IF WE GET INTO AN EEA VENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE, TWO AND THREE EEA, ONE, TWO AND THREE, ONE AND TWO ERCOT TIGHTENS UP AS FAR AS TELLING PEOPLE TO CONSERVE MORE.
IF WE GO TO THREE, WHICH WE'RE NOT THERE, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTROLLED OUTAGES AND ORDER US TO HAVE CONTROLLED OUTAGES, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ABOUT A HUNDRED CIRCUITS IN OUR SERVICE AREA THAT DO NOT HAVE CRITICAL LOADS ON THEM.
AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO, WE HAVE AN ALGORITHM THAT ROTATES AROUND THE SYSTEM, UH, FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES AT A TIME.
IF, IF WE HAVE TO HAVE CONTROLLED OUTAGES, AND IF WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THAT, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE WILL, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW, UM, IT PROBABLY ONLY LASTS A FEW HOURS BECAUSE WHEN THE WIND'S NOT BLOWING IN THE MORNING AND THE SUN'S NOT SHINING, THAT'S THE BIGGEST RISK WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE THE, THE CONSERVATION, WHICH IS WHY THEY'VE SAID SIX TO NINE.
CAN CAN I, I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT BECAUSE KEEP IT, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT, THAT BOB SAID THAT, UM, SOUND LIKE SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, AND, AND, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A BAD WAY.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I WANT, I WANT IT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
PART OF THE REASON IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN HE MENTIONS THINGS LIKE THE SUN AND THE WIND IS BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE RESOURCE THAT WE RELY UPON IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE, THE ENERGY.
AND I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT JUST THAT, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EARLIER IN THE MORNING.
IT'S A PART OF THE, THE, THE OVERALL RESOURCES.
UM, THE, THE, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS THAT, UM, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS THAT ERCOT, AND I WANT TO, I WANNA SAY THIS AS MANY TIMES AS I CAN.
AUSTIN ENERGY DOESN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO DO THE OUTAGES.
IF THERE'S A DECISION MADE FOR THERE TO BE OUTAGES, THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE BY ERCOT.
UM, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT MAN IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES THE ENTIRE GRID.
AND AUSTIN DOESN'T GET A SAY IN THAT IF ERCOT DETERMINES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUTAGES, BECAUSE THERE, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE GRID AND MAINTAINING THE TEXAS, THE OVERALL TEXAS GRID, THOSE DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE BY ERCOT.
AND THEN WE WILL BE FACED WITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IT.
AND WHAT BOB LAID OUT, UH, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED NON-CRITICAL LOAD AREAS, AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS TO MAKE THIS WHERE NOBODY HAS MORE BURDEN THAN SOMEONE ELSE IN OUR CITY, WHAT WE WILL TRY TO DO IS WE WILL TRY TO ROLL THOSE OUTAGES IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ONE AREA HAVE MORE THAN 40 MINUTES.
40 MINUTES IS KIND OF THE MAXIMUM THAT, THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
SO IT WOULD, YOU WOULD HAVE THESE KIND OF ROLLING, UH, PREPARED OUTAGES.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, WE RIGHT NOW DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IT.
BUT BOB WILL, WHAT BOB IS TELLING YOU IS WE ARE VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THIS.
UM, AND SO FAR THINGS ARE POINTING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, BUT ERCOT MAY MAKE DECISIONS.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, PLEASE CONSERVE, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AND IT MAY AVOID SOMETHING HAPPENING WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONTROLLED OUTAGES THAT WOULD ROLL THROUGH OUR CITY.
BUT AGAIN, WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE ALERTS.
[00:25:01]
ONE OF THE REASONS WE ASK PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ALERTS IS SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION.PICKING UP THE OUTAGES AND THE ALERTS.
WE HEARD FROM A COUPLE VIEWERS WHO REACHED OUT TO US SAYING THAT THEY TRIED TO REPORT OUTAGES YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE GETTING ERROR MESSAGES.
THEY CALLED AND WERE TRANSFERRED TO 3 1 1.
THEY WEREN'T, THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GETTING UPDATES.
IS JUST ANYTHING AUSTIN ENERGY IS AWARE OF? IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING INTO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM? I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT, BUT I WILL CHECK INTO IT.
IF, IF THAT'S HAPPENING, IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
SOMETHING OFF OF THE QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT THE HOMELESS SHELTERS, UM, NOT RELATED OFTEN E OH, UH, BUT YOU CAN ANSWER IT IF YOU WANT
UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE PEOPLE TAKING SHELTER OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS THAN NORMALLY DO.
OFTEN PREPARED TO MEALS AND IN HOUSING FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
AND, AND IN FACT, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, UH, WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SHELTERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE START WITH, UM, THE BASE, UH, IF YOU WILL, OF ESSENTIALLY THREE SHELTERS.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, I, I'LL CONFIRM WITH YOU THAT WE'RE OPERATING NOW SIX SHELTERS, AND THOSE SIX SHELTERS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT CLOSURE UNTIL, UH, WEDNESDAY.
SO, UM, UH, ON WEDNESDAY WE'LL MAKE SOME DETERMINATIONS ABOUT WHEN WE WILL CLOSE THOSE.
BUT THE, THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS WE HAVE MONITORED THAT AND WE ANTICIPATE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE JUDGE, THE JUDGE AND I WENT TODAY, UM, ONE OF THOSE SHELTERS, THEY'RE STILL, AT LEAST AS AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE WAS SOME ROOM, WELL, ACTUALLY IN BOTH OF 'EM.
AND, UM, SO, SO THAT'S ALL BEING MONITORED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE REGISTRATION BECOMES IMPORTANT, IS SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MONITOR THOSE.
BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE UPPED THAT NUMBER ON A, SO FAR, A ROUTINE AND CALCULATED BASIS SO THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THOSE SHELTERS AVAILABLE.
AND, UM, AND, AND, UH, I ANTICIPATE THAT, WE'LL, NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO ANOTHER DAY OF THIS, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT WILL SIGN UP.
WE EVEN, UH, TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENS FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, ARE NOW NEW COMING IN OR THAT LEAVE AND THEN WANT TO COME BACK.
AND THAT, I, I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT'S VERY WELL ORGANIZED, BUT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR MORE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE UP TO THE NUMBERS WE ARE REGARDING POSSIBLE SOCIAL WORKERS HAVING YOU BEEN IN TOUCH WITH OR AISD YEAH.
LIKE ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, UH, WHEN WE HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS, UM, IS, AND WE DO IT, UH, IN ADVANCE OF THINGS GETTING BAD OR GETTING WORSE, IS WE HAVE A, UH, WE HAVE ROUTINE CALLS, UH, WITH ALL OF THE, THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT YOU, YOU, YOU JUST REFERENCED, CITY COUNTY, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND AUSTIN, UH, A-C-C-A-I-S-D.
UM, AND WE, WE TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, THE CALL THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH, WHAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH SCHOOLS THAT'LL BE MADE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND A ISD, BUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH GETTING REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THAT CALL WILL PROBABLY BE MADE, UH, MID-AFTERNOON TODAY.
FIRE, I KNOW YOU GUYS
UM, YEAH, WE RAN PROBABLY A ROUTINE NUMBER OF CALLS.
WE'VE CALLED A BUSY SHIFT YESTERDAY AS, UH, AS THE WEATHER REMAINS COLD AND WE HAVE, UH, THAWING OUT LATER IN THE WEEK, WE ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL, UM, BROKEN PIPE CALLS AND FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS. AND SO WE'VE UPST STAFFED FOR THAT AND WE'RE PREPARED FOR, FOR WHATEVER COMES HOW MANY ROLLOVER CRASHES OR, UM, ACCIDENTS WERE, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, ANY FATALITIES OR OTHERS CHECKIN.
AND, UH, YOU COULD SEE IF THEY WERE WEATHER RELATED, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU LATER.
THERE WERE, UH, FOUR ROLLOVER ROCKS NEST THAT I'M AWARE OF, UH, SINCE, UH, LAST NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, WERE THEY WEATHER RELATED OR DO YOU KNOW, UH, I'M SURE IF THEY WERE WEATHER RELATED, YOU FATALITIES OR INJURIES? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
IS IT AN
UM, WHILE I'M UP HERE, JUST TO EMPHASIZE AS WELL, THAT HYPOTHERMIA IS A, IS VERY UNIQUE IN THAT, UM, ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHERMIA IS CONFUSION.
AND SO, UM, AS YOU GET COLDER, UH, YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING HYPOTHERMIA.
AND THAT'S WHY IT IS SO CRITICAL FOR INDIVIDUALS IF
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YOU'RE OUTSIDE, TO BE MONITORING YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING INSIDE AND SEEKING SHELTER IN AN APPROPRIATE TIME.SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE WE'RE GONNA WRAP THIS UP.
I WANT TO, SOMETHING I SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
WE'VE BEEN AT THIS NOW LONG ENOUGH THAT I CAN CONFIRM SOMETHING I SAID MIGHT HAPPEN LATER IN THE DAY, BUT, UM, I, I JUST CONFIRMED THAT WE HAVE SIX SHELTERS THAT ARE OPEN AND THEY'RE GONNA BE OPEN WITHOUT CLOSURE THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17TH.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT, UH, WHEN WE DEMOBILIZE OR WHEN, WHEN WE CHANGE THAT FROM BEING SHELTERS.
WHAT I SAID EARLIER WAS, THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH REGARD TO THINGS LIKE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT THOSE REC CENTERS.
SO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING IS GOING TO BE RELOCATED AND ALL OTHER PROGRAMS CANCELED.
AND SO WHAT I, WE, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND START GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT.
WE WILL BE ENCOURAGING FOLKS THAT, UH, UTILIZE THOSE FACILITIES FOR THOSE TO, TO SEEK OTHER, UH, EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS AND OTHER SITES, UH, THAT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED HERE AT THE, UH, EOC, BUT WE'LL START GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I, SINCE I BROUGHT IT UP AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS, I WANTED TO BRING IT UP AGAIN.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE MEDIA THAT'S GETTING OUT ALL THIS INFORMATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE, EVEN AS I TALK, UH, AND, AND THE JUDGE TALKS TO OUR RESIDENTS, WE'RE SAYING, PLEASE MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON ON THOSE NEWS STATIONS BECAUSE IT'S KEY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF Y'ALL THAT ARE HERE.
AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA SAY TO, UH, OUR RESIDENTS, CONSERVE ENERGY.
UH, THINGS ARE GOING WELL, BUT CONSERVE ENERGY IF YOU CAN.
AND IF YOU CAN'T, IF YOU CAN STAY INDOORS, DON'T GO OUTSIDE.
NO NEED TO GET ON THE ROADS, UH, UNNECESSARILY.
AND NO NEED TO BE OUTSIDE, UH, IF YOU CAN STAY INDOORS.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY.
YOU WANNA SEE, HEY, ONE OTHER THING, JUST THAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING LOOKS LIKE THE LOW TONIGHT IS WHAT? 16 AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.
JUST CHECKING THE APPLE WEATHER RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU NEED A, A WARM PLACE TO STAY, IT'S ONE TEXAS CENTER, RIGHT? YOU CAN GO THERE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT CITIES SHELTERS THERE THAT'LL KEEP YOU WARM, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO GO THERE.
IF, IF YOU NEED THERE, CALL WHAT? THREE ONE ONE TWO FIVE ONE TWO FIVE FIVE NINE SEVEN FOUR 2000 2005.
FIVE FROM 5:00 PM TO 8:00 PM TO REGISTER.
SO IF, IF YOU'RE IN A HOUSE SITUATION, TRY TO STAY HOME.
TRY TO STAY OFF THE ROADS TODAY.
UM, IF YOU'RE UNHOUSED, SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT TONIGHT TO GET UP TO A WARM PLACE, UM, LIKE THE ONES THAT WE VISITED TODAY.