[January Cold Snap Press Conference]
[00:00:05]
AS MUCH AS I LIKE THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN I WANTED.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS EFFORTS BY BOTH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER SEASON AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AS EVERYONE CAN TELL, I THINK, UH, IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT COLDER, MAYBE A WHOLE LOT COLDER OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS WINTER WEATHER IS GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR A BIT LONGER.
SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS, AS WE HAVE PROMISED, IS TO COME TOGETHER, UH, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW PEOPLE CAN BE PREPARED.
AND LET, UH, YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRA YOU'LL HEAR FROM TRAVIS COUNTY AS WELL, IS MONITORING THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STANDS READY TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
SHOULD BAD WEATHER COME OUR WAY.
UH, WE MET WITH THE MEDIA AND OUR COMMUNITY IN DECEMBER TO REVIEW OUR WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS PLANS AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTY.
WE TOLD EVERYONE THEN THAT WE WERE PREPARING THEN, SO THAT WE'D BE READY LATER.
WELL, WE STAND HERE TODAY READY.
WE AS A CITY ARE PREPARED FOR WINTER WEATHER BY MAKING SURE OUR UTILITIES ARE RE READY FOR THE SEVERE WEATHER, AND IN THE EVENT OF OUTAGES THAT WE'RE READY TO RESTORE SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PROVIDING WARMING CENTERS AND SHELTER FOR THOSE WHO NEED THOSE WARMING CENTERS AND THAT SHELTER, DELIVERING VITAL INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS QUICKLY AND AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO HELP AUSTINITES STAY SAFE AND INFORMED, KEEPING ROADS SAFE, KEEPING THEM AS SAFE AS IS POSSIBLE, AND CONTINUING TO DELIVER THE CRITICAL CITY SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON, DESPITE CHALLENGES THAT THE WEATHER MIGHT BRING US.
WE ALSO NEED, WE ALSO NEED EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY AND AS FAMILIES, FRIEND GROUPS, AND NEIGHBORS TO BE PREPARED.
I WANNA REITERATE ONE OF MY MESSAGES FROM THE DECEMBER, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HAD.
WHEN YOU HAVE BAD WEATHER EVENTS, NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE PERFECT.
NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE WITHOUT PROBLEMS, AND THERE WILL BE UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO CONTROL.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE THESE PRESS CONFERENCES AND TALK ABOUT THIS, IS BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY AND AS FAMILIES AND HELPING THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE PREPARED.
RIGHT NOW, THE WEATHER IS COLD AND WE EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO MOVE THROUGH LATE TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY THURSDAY.
THAT WILL MAKE THINGS ESPECIALLY MISERABLE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THERE IS A LOW CHANCE, A LOW CHANCE FOR ICE OR FREEZING RAIN AS TEMPERATURES WHILE THEY'RE VERY COLD, SHOULD REMAIN ABOVE FREEZING TOMORROW.
THE CITY HAS BEEN OPERATING COLD WEATHER SHELTERS ALL WEEK FOR THOSE WHO NEED A WARM PLACE TO STAY AT NIGHT.
BUT GIVEN THE COLD AND RAINY WEATHER WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT TOMORROW, WE WILL KEEP THOSE SHELTERS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THURSDAY SO PEOPLE CAN STAY INSIDE AND STAY WARM.
I ALSO, UH, I WANT TO, AND I ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY AGAIN THAT THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE ON A DIME HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
SO WHAT, AGAIN, WHATEVER FORECAST YOU HEAR, STAY PREPARED, THINGS CAN CHANGE.
AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO TO PREPARE IS TO, TO BE PREPARED, IS TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS AT WARREN W ARN WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG, WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
PEOPLE CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE FREE READY CENTRAL TEXAS APP, READY CENTRAL TEXAS.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THAT ON YOUR PHONE AND THAT WILL PROVIDE YOU UPDATES AND NEWS, EMERGENCY PLAN CHECKLISTS, AND MORE RESOURCES ON HOW YOU CAN PREPARE FOR THE WINTER WEATHER.
UH, WE'VE GOT, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF FOLKS ON HAND THAT ARE READY TO SHARE INFORMATION OR TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE A SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT SOMEONE MAY WANT.
UH, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, UM, AND FRIEND, UH, COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN.
[00:05:02]
THANK YOU.UM, THIS MORNING, THE MAYOR AND I AND THE SEC HUD SECRETARY, AND I THINK A LOT OF Y'ALL STOOD IN THE COLD FOR ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 20, 30 MINUTES, AND IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY 38 DEGREES, BUT IT FELT A LOT COLDER THAN THAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE, IT'S NOT AS SEVERE, IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, IT'S STILL COLD OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE TO STAND OUTSIDE FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, I JUST WANNA START BY THANKING ALL OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS STAFF THAT RESPOND WHEN WE EXPERIENCE SEVERE WEATHER HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THEIR PREP WORK OF BOTH THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND THE STATE, HELP KEEP US SAFE, WARM, AND MOVING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER ANY WINTER WEATHER THAT WE'RE GONNA EXPERIENCE.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD EXPECT AND PREPARE FOR COLD WEATHER TOMORROW.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT WE'LL EXPERIENCE AT LEAST ONE SEVERE COLD SNAP EACH SEASON.
WE NEED THE PUBLIC TO DO THEIR PART AND BE READY.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BEGUN, THE TIME TO START PREPARING IS NOW.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REVIEW HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE WARM, HOW TO TRAVEL SAFELY, HOW TO PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES SHOULD THEY OCCUR, AND HOW TO WORK AND PLAY OUTSIDE IN THE COLD IF NECESSARY.
A LITTLE INTENTION NOW WILL HELP REDUCE INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGES FOR RESIDENTS, PETS, PEOPLE, AND PLANTS OVER THE WINTER SEASON.
REMEMBER, EVERYONE IS AT RISK FROM THE DANGERS OF EXTREME COLD, BUT NEWBORNS, ELDERLY, CHRONIC FOLKS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES, OUTDOOR WORKERS AND THE UNHOUSED ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN MOST PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN.
HAVING A PLAN IS CRUCIAL TO HELP YOU STAY HEALTHY, ENSURE THE COMFORT OF YOUR FAMILY, AND TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO EMERGENCIES OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS.
FOCUSING ON THESE PRIORITIES ALLOWS FOR YOU TO REST ASSURED ONCE THE SEVERE WEATHER ARRIVES AND WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR PREPARATIONS.
TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE DOING THE SAME.
UH, STAFF FROM OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE TRANSPORTATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY, AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON THE GROUND HELPING AND PREPARING FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
UH, THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS ALSO COORDINATING WITH THE SMALLER, UH, CITIES AND TOWNS WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THERE ARE ABOUT 21 OF THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, TOWNS AND VILLAGES THAT ARE PARTIALLY, ENTIRELY WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS COORDINATING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE NO UNMET NEEDS AS WELL.
OUR TNR OUR ROAD CREWS ARE OUT EVALUATING WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO PRETREAT ROADS AND IF WE, WHETHER OR NOT WE DO, IF WE NEED TO TREAT THEM.
IF THEY DO IOP TOMORROW, WE'RE ALSO READY TO ASSIST AFTER THE STORM FOR ANY DEBRIS MANAGEMENT IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFF WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT AND COORDINATORS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SENIOR ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS WHEN THEIR EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER IS ACTIVATED IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
FINALLY, ALL SIX TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS WARMING CENTERS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, CAN EXTEND HOURS WHEN NECESSARY, AND WE WILL ASSIST GETTING FOLKS TO THE CITY OF SHELTERS IF THEY NEED TO STAY IN PLACES OVERNIGHT.
SO, I WANNA THANK THE PUBLIC AGAIN, THANK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR WORKING TOGETHER.
SO WELL, UH, WHILE WE PREPARE TO GET READY FOR TOMORROW.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH, AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO BILL WILSON, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF HSEM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BILL WILSON, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN HESO HAS WONDER MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OR HESO, WANTS TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY TO PREPARE AND TAKE SAFETY MEASURES.
AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE FOUR PS PEOPLE, PETS, PIPES, AND PLANTS.
IN ORDER TO DO THIS, YOU CAN DRESS IN LAYERS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE COLD.
NEVER HEAT YOUR HOME WITH THESE SOURCES INDOORS, A POWER GENERATOR, A GRILL, AN OVEN, A CAMP STOVE, OR ANY OTHER GASOLINE, PROPANE, OR CHARCOAL BURNING DEVICE.
THESE CAN RELEASE DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE AND CREATE FIRES.
KNOW THE TEMPERATURE AND ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOME.
BRING YOUR PETS INSIDE TO KEEP THEM WARM AND SAFE.
INSULATE OR COVER EXPOSED PIPES TO PROTECT THEM FROM FREEZING.
TURN OFF OUTSIDE FAUCETS AND DRIP ONE FAUCET ONLY.
COVER YOUR PLANTS OR BRING THEM IN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STAYING SAFE IN WINTER WEATHER, VISIT READY CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
THIS IS HE'S DIGITAL PREPAREDNESS HUB.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN OPENED OVERNIGHT COLD WEATHER SHELTERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND EATS NIGHT SINCE TONIGHT, DUE TO ANTICIPATED PRECIPITATION ON THURSDAY AND LOWER HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE CITY'S GONNA TRANSITION
[00:10:01]
TO A 24 HOUR SHELTER OPERATIONS.THE 24 HOUR COLD WEATHER SHELTER OPERATIONS WILL LAST THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING WHEN THE SHELTERS WERE CLEAR AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS GOING INTO OVERNIGHT FRIDAY.
WITH THIS TRANSITION TO 24 HOUR SHELTERING, THAT ALSO TRIGGERS ACTIVATION OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER OR EOC.
WE WILL ACTIVATE THE EOC AT 2:00 PM TODAY FOLLOWING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE.
DURING THE ACTIVATION UPTODATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE SITUATION CAN BE FOUND AT THE CITY ALERTS WEBPAGE, WHICH IS AUSTIN TEXAS.GOV/ALERTS, AND THERE WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO 14 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES DURING THIS ACTIVATION.
UPTODATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE SITUATION CAN BE FOUND.
OH, APOLOGIES FROM THE EOC AUSTIN HASUM WILL BE MONITORING THE WEATHER, COORDINATING THE RESPONSE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND ASSISTING SHELTER OPERATIONS AND OTHER LOGISTICAL NEEDS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYEES AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
COLD WEATHER SHELTERS OPEN WHEN OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 35 DEGREES BASED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES READING AT CAMP MABRY.
REGISTRATION FOR SHELTER HAPPENS EACH DAY BETWEEN SIX AND 8:00 PM AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, LOCATED AT 5 0 5 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD.
THIS LOCATION ACTS AS THE CENTRAL EMBARKATION POINT FOR ANYONE SEEKING OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
INDIVIDUALS CAN GET INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESS AND ACTIVATION BY CALLING THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER HOTLINE AT 5 1 2 9 7 2 5 0 5 5.
AGAIN, THAT NUMBER IS 5 1 2 9 7 2 5 0 5 5.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COLD WEATHER SHELTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCY UPDATES, PLEASE VISIT OUR ALERTS WEBPAGE AT WWW.AUSTINTEXAS.GOV/ALERTS.
WARMING CENTERS ARE ALSO OPEN FOR THE WINTER WARMING CENTERS ARE OUR INDOOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT FACILITIES THAT ARE OPEN DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS WHERE COMMUNITY MA COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET A REPRIEVE FROM THE COLD.
AN UP TO DATE MAP OF OUR WARMING CENTERS IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.AUSTINTEXAS.GOV/ALERTS.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN USE THIS INTERACTIVE MAP TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR THEM AND GET EASY DIRECTIONS.
NEXT SPEAKING IS GONNA BE ERIC CARTER, THE CHIEF EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
I'M THE CHIEF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
AS EVERYONE HERE HAS SAID, WE NEED THE PUBLIC TO BE READY FOR SEVERE WEATHER, WINTER WEATHER THIS WEEK.
IN ADDITION TO SIGNING UP FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR WEATHER FORECAST.
I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW ALL OF TRAVIS COUNTY'S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS FOR UPDATES FROM WINTER WEATHER TO THE SCORCHING HEAT, SUMMER HEAT, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.
UH, WE'LL HAVE TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE.
UH, FOR ANY EVENT, WE HAVE ACCOUNTS UP ON FACEBOOK X INSTAGRAM NEXT DOOR.
FOR THOSE RESIDENTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO START PREPARING YOUR PROPERTIES, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, WHERE THE POTENTIAL, UH, FOR FREEZING RAIN IS THE MOST PROMINENT, UH, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HOMES WITH SMALL KIDS.
MAKE SURE YOU BUNDLE 'EM UP, WRAP 'EM UP.
UH, WHEN YOU DROP 'EM OFF FOR SCHOOL, UH, HOPEFULLY TAKE THE LATEST YOU CAN.
DON'T LEAVE 'EM OUT TOO LONG BEFORE THE SCHOOL OPENS.
IN OTHER WORDS, UH, BUT WITH THE COLD WEATHER, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AS JUDGE BROWN NOTED, THE TRAVIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL REMAIN IN CONSTANT CON COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER SMALLER CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY.
BY WORKING TOGETHER AND PREPARING PROPERLY, WE CAN LESSEN ANY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE SEVERE WINTER WEATHER.
UH, WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, PASS IT TO, UH, STUART RILEY, AUSTIN ENERGY, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER.
AS ERIC SAID, I'M STUART RILEY, AUSTIN ENERGY DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, AND I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT AUSTIN ENERGY TEAMS READY TO RESPOND TO THE WINTER WEATHER.
WE PREPARE YEAR ROUND FOR EXTREME WEATHER, INCLUDING IN THE WINTER MONTHS AT OUR POWER PLANTS, SUBSTATIONS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FACILITIES.
OUR FOCUS IS ON INSPECTING, MAINTAINING WINTERIZING, WEATHERIZING, AND INSULATING OUR EQUIPMENT.
WE PERFORM FREQUENT INSPECTIONS LEADING UP TO THE WINTER MONTHS AND DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AT AUSTIN ENERGY, WE HAVE ENHANCED OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES.
WE HAVE ADDED NEW MUTUAL AID CONTRACTS, AND WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPLIES NECESSARY ON HAND FOR RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.
SHOULD WE SEE ANY NECESSARY DURING THIS EVENT.
AUSTIN ENERGY CREWS ARE ON CALL AND ON SHIFT 24 HOURS A
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DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, READY TO RESPOND TO ANY OUTAGES.IN ADDITION, OUR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CREWS ARE OUT THERE TRIMMING TREES, KEEPING LIMBS OFF OF POWER LINES, OFF OF POLES, OFF OF OTHER ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP PREVENT OUTAGES FROM EVEN OCCURRING.
NOT EVERY WINTER, UH, WEATHER EMERGENCY IS THE SAME OF COURSE, IN 2021, WE SAW A LACK OF POWER GENERATION ACROSS ERCOT.
IN 2023, WE SAW THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF ICE, UH, THAT WEIGHED DOWN TREES AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND, AND SO I I I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR ALL TYPES OF EVENTS THAT COULD OCCUR.
WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING A LACK OF ADEQUATE POWER GENERATION.
AND ERCOT IS NOT FORECASTING AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY.
WE ARE ALSO NOT ANTICIPATING SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, BUT WE NEED TO BE READY.
UH, WE ARE STAYING READY AT AUSTIN ENERGY AND WE ASK THAT OUR CUSTOMERS GET READY AND STAY READY AS WELL NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE OUR COMMUNITY CAN HELP TO GET READY BY SIGNING UP FOR OUTAGE ALERTS.
MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN ENERGY HAS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO REPORT AN OUTAGE.
UM, AND TO REGISTER FOR THOSE TEXT ALERTS, YOU CAN TEXT REG AS IN REGISTER TO THE NUMBER 2 8 7 8 4 6.
AGAIN, THAT'S TEXT THE NUMBER 2 8 7 8 4 6.
AND YOU WANNA TEXT THE WORD REG AS IN REGISTER.
ALSO, UH, ON THE AUSTIN ENERGY WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND TIPS FOR HOW TO PREPARE IF YOU GO TO AUSTIN ENERGY.COM/OUTAGE.
AND WE HAVE CURRENT GRID CONDITIONS UP ON OUR, ON OUR WEBPAGE@AUSTINENERGY.COM SLASH ALERTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF HELPFUL INFORMATION THERE.
IF YOU WERE TO GO TO AUSTIN ENERGY.COM/ALERTS RIGHT NOW, WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IS THAT ERCOT HAS DECLARED A WEATHER WATCH THROUGH JANUARY 10TH.
HOWEVER, WE ARE IN NORMAL GRID OPERATING CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU WILL SEE ON THAT PAGE THAT WE ARE IN EVERYDAY CONSERVATION MODE.
SO WHILE CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL RIGHT NOW, WE ARE READY, WE ARE READY TO RESPOND AND WE WILL BE READY TO ACT SHOULD CONDITIONS CHANGE.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OFF TO, UM, RICHARD MENDOZA WITH AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS.
RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
SO WE'LL BE MONITORING OUR CITY'S ROADWAYS VERY CAREFULLY BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY.
AND WHILE WE DO NOT, THE CURRENT FORECAST DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY FREEZING PRECEPT, EITHER SLEET, ICE, OR SNOW.
UH, WE DO ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO USE CAUTION AS WE DO EXPECT WET CONDITIONS, AND ALSO TO CONTINUALLY MONITOR OUR CONDITIONS AS YOU KNOW, THEY CAN CHANGE, UH, RAPIDLY.
SO FIRST, PLEASE CHECK OUR OFFICIAL CITY COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING ROAD CONDITIONS AND ANY CURRENT INCIDENTS OR ROAD CLOSURES.
AND THEN WE ALSO SUGGEST MAPPING OUT A ROUTE WHEN YOU DO GO OUT AND ABOUT AND AVOID AREAS WHERE BLACK ICE MAY FORM OVERNIGHT, SUCH AS ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.
WHILE WE DO NOT EXPECT, UM, UH, PROLONGED SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES SOMETIMES WITH THE WIND CHILL, WHEN WE DO GET WIND CONDITIONS, THOSE ELEVATED STRUCTURES CAN BE PRONE TO DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK EYES.
OUR CREWS TRAIN FOR THESE TYPES OF WINTER EVENTS DURING THE OFF SEASON, AND WE'RE PREPARED FOR THESE TYPES OF POTENTIAL WINTER STORMS. WE'VE CONDUCTED EXERCISES AS WELL AS DRY RUN EXERCISES TO DRIVE OUR, OUR ROUTES.
AND OUR CURRENT PLAN IS FOR OUR ROAD CREWS TO BE ON STANDBY BEGINNING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY, TO BE ABLE TO DEPLOY ANTI-ICING MATERIALS AS NECESSARY AND AS CONDITIONS, UH, MAY WARRANT.
WE WILL FIRST FOCUS ON OUR PRIORITIZED HIGH PROFILE ROUTES AND HIGH PROFILE FACILITIES SUCH AS HOSPITALS, WARMING CENTERS, AND FIRE EMS STATIONS.
AND THE CREWS WILL BE, UH, POSTURED TO APPLY DEICING MATERIAL AS NECESSARY.
ADDITIONALLY, SOMETIMES WITH HIGH WINDS, UH, IT CAN IMPACT OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
WE HAVE OVER 1000 SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WE URGE OUR PUBLIC IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A DARK SIGNAL, PLEASE OBSERVE THAT AS A FOUR-WAY STOP.
WE DO HAVE AND CALL 'EM THREE ONE ONE 'CAUSE OUR TRAFFIC CREWS DO HAVE STANDBY GENERATORS, WHICH WE CAN DEPLOY ON THOSE VERY HIGH CAPACITY, UH, ROADWAYS AS WELL AS TEMPORARY FOUR-WAY STOPS.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND KNOW THAT THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS STANDS READY TO RESPOND TO ANY DEGREE OF WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY.
UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE PRESENTATIONS WE'RE GONNA MAKE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DO WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND WE'VE GOT OTHERS HERE OBVIOUSLY THAT CAN ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE.
SO LET'S, LET'S START WITH QUESTIONS.
[00:20:01]
PLEASE STAND.UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
UH, AT AUSTIN ENERGY, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR TREE TRIMMING PROGRAM AND OUR PROGRESS IS UNDERWAY.
WE, WE AIM TO COMPLETE EVERY ONE OF OUR THREE OVER 300 ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ON A SEVEN YEAR CYCLE.
UM, WE ARE A COUPLE YEARS AWAY FROM COMPLETING ALL OF THAT WORK, I BELIEVE.
UM, BUT WE ARE WELL UNDERWAY AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT PRIORITIZES THE HIGHEST NEED AREAS.
THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING IN TERMS OF THEIR RELIABILITY.
WE PRIORITIZE THOSE AREAS AND ANY AREAS THAT ARE OF HEIGHTENED WILDFIRE RISK, WE PRIORITIZE THOSE AREAS AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE GREATLY EXPANDED OUR TREE TRIMMING CONTRACTS.
WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL TREE TRIMMING CREWS, WE'VE EXPANDED OUR BUDGET AND, UM, WE'RE MAKING A A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD.
I, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
UM, WE'LL HAVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, SURE.
WE, UH, MODIFIED THE RULES AROUND COLD WEATHER SHELTER, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT MANY ARE AWARE OF.
WE'VE INCREASED OUR THRESHOLD FROM OVERNIGHT LOOKING LIKE IT WOULD BE 32 DEGREES TO 35 DEGREES.
UH, WE'VE ALSO DONE SOME ADVANCED COMMUNICATION, IN OTHER WORDS, ONE DAY IN ADVANCE WHERE WE'RE USED TO NOTIFY FOLKS ON THE MORNING OF.
AND SO WE THINK THAT THE COMMUNICATION, UH, THE CHANGE IN THRESHOLD HAS REALLY HELPED, UM, IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, MORE FOLKS COME IN OR AS MANY FOLKS AS WE WOULD HOPE, AND, UH, WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.
YEAH, SO WE'VE HAD, UH, WE'VE HAD THREE ACTIVATIONS.
I JUST GONNA GIVE YOU NUMBERS.
UM, SO YEAH, WE'VE HAD THREE ACTIVATIONS SO FAR.
SUNDAY WAS RIGHT AT AROUND 200.
UH, MONDAY WAS JUST UNDER 300 AND LAST NIGHT WAS JUST OVER 300.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUDGE, YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? I'M GOOD.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT.
UH, WE, WE, WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, BUT WE PROMISED THAT WE WOULD DO THIS, UH, TIME AND AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT WE WERE CALLING ATTENTION TO WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL OF Y'ALL.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
UH, I WILL, I WILL AGAIN REITERATE FOR THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I REALLY HOPE PEOPLE WILL USE THESE RESOURCES, IS PLEASE GO TO WARN WARN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG, WARN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG SO THAT YOU CAN GET EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS.
AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP, READY CENTRAL TEXAS.
UH, YOU CAN PUT, YOU'LL HAVE THAT ON YOUR PHONE AND IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH UPDATES RELATED TO NEWS, EMERGENCY PLAN CHECKLIST, CHECKLISTS, AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES YOU MIGHT NEED IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER WEATHER.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.