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HEY EVERYBODY, WHY DON'T YOU SO COME OVER HERE DOING GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU? YOU READY, MR. VAN? I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
[Severe Weather and Flooding News Conference on April 13, 2026.]
WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.I WANNA SAY, AND I SAY ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, INCLUDING THE COUNTY JUDGE, THAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE MEDIA'S PARTNERSHIP.
WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S A BIG PART, UH, OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION IS MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE AND PREPARED, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE MEDIA'S INVOLVEMENT.
SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HEAR THE PHRASE, UH, FREQUENTLY THAT CENTRAL TEXAS IS FLASH FLOOD ALLEY, AND THAT'S THE CASE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST DANGERS WE FACE IS THAT IT MAY BE FORECASTED TO BE AN AFTERNOON SHOWER, AND IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS THAT AFTERNOON SHOWER CAN SUDDENLY TURN VERY DEADLY.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE'VE SEEN THE DEVASTATION FIRSTHAND OVER THE PAST DECADE.
AND NEIGHBORS IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND KIRK COUNTY HAVE TRAGICALLY EXPERIENCED THE POWER, DESTRUCTION, AND DEVASTATION OF WATER MUCH MORE RECENTLY.
UNDERSTANDING THE THREAT YOU'RE FACED WITH IS CRUCIAL, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ALL DURING THIS FLOOD SEASON A PHRASE THAT HOPEFULLY YOU'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO AND YOU'VE INTERNALIZED AND YOU WILL FOLLOW.
TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN, TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.
AND THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A SLOGAN, JUST SIX INCHES OF WATER.
ONLY SIX INCHES OF WATER CAN KNOCK OVER AN ADULT.
12 INCHES OF WATER, A FOOT OF WATER IF IT'S RUNNING, CAN SWEEP AWAY MOST VEHICLES.
A LOT OF US DON'T THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT, THAT RESPECT.
AS WE ENTER INTO THIS FLOOD SEASON, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING WEATHER REPORTS.
YOU'RE AVOIDING LOW WATER CROSSINGS DURING RAINSTORMS AND NEVER EVER DRIVE AROUND A BARRIER.
STANDING WATER THAT LOOKS HARMLESS CAN SWEEP A CAR AWAY IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS.
A GREAT PLACE TO GET INFORMATION IS ATX FLOODS.COM, ATX FLOODS.COM.
YOU CAN FIND IN INFORMATION THERE SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN.
AND DURING WEATHER EVENTS, YOU CAN SEE WHICH ROADS ARE CLOSED, AND YOU CAN SEE LIVE CAMERAS MONITORING OUR FLOOD PRONE AREAS.
WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY WITH EXPERTISE IN THESE AREAS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION.
THE MAIN MESSAGE WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW IS TO BE PREPARED AND TO STAY SAFE.
AND NOW I'LL, UH, ASK OUR TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN TO SHARE SOME OF HIS THOUGHTS.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET TO THE PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE, UM, JUST WANNA SAY, I'M ANDY BROWN.
GLAD WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, REDUCED SOME OF THE POLLEN, UH, REDUCED SOME OF THE FIRE RISK.
AND, UH, JUST KNOW THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS WEEKEND I WAS IN, IN CHAN ROCK, THE DRIVE OUT THERE HAD A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, A LOT OF NEW, NEW GRASSES GROWING.
THERE WERE EVEN STREAMS AT ENCHANTED ROCK THIS WEEKEND.
UM, BUT THOSE SAME, THAT SAME GROWTH, THOSE SAME GRASSES, THE SAME FLOWERS THAT ARE GROWING RIGHT NOW AND LOOKING REAL BEAUTIFUL CAN TURN INTO FIRE RISK THIS SUMMER.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE ABOUT, IS MAKING SURE THAT IF, UH, WIND CONDITIONS GET A LITTLE BIT WORSE WHEN THEY GET DRIER, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS.
SO, UM, SOME OF THOSE THINGS INCLUDE, UH, SPARK RISKS.
SO START THINKING ABOUT THIS NOW.
UM, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS PREPARE, PREPARE, AND MONITOR CONDITIONS EVERY DAY.
BUT ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL DANGERS ARE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND BETWEEN EVERYBODY LISTENING TO US TODAY.
SO, THERE'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, WHICH ARE SIGN UP FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK THAT YOU CAN DO IN PREPAREDNESS.
YOU WANNA BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO MAKE SURE ON YOUR PHONE, BOTH THAT YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS, AND THAT YOUR EMERGENCY ALERTS, THE SETTINGS ON THERE, ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS ON YOUR PHONE.
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE ALERTS THAT YOU'RE GETTING FROM US AND FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IF YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT OF TOWN.
IF YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE WHERE MAYBE YOUR COMMUNICATION ISN'T THAT GREAT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THE WEATHER IS GONNA BE.
[00:05:03]
THERE'S ALSO ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT SOURCE OF, OF CONFUSION.I KNOW TODAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER A, OR WE WERE UNDER A FLOOD WATCH AS OF YESTERDAY AT LEAST.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WARNING AND WATCH, AND I'LL JUST SAY IT NOW.
BASICALLY, A WARNING IS WORSE.
YOU CAN REMEMBER IT THAT WAY, OR YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT A WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER, WHEREAS A WARNING MEANS THAT THE DANGER IS HAPPENING OR ABOUT TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION FOR WILD FIRE SAFETY.
STAY AWARE OF LOCAL BURN BANDS, AVOID OUTDOOR BURNING DURING DRY OR WINDY CONDITIONS.
AND WE DO THAT AT TRAVIS COUNTY BASICALLY EVERY WEEK.
WE SAY WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A BURN BAND.
SO PLEASE TRY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND WHEN THERE IS A BURN BAND, MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT GRILLING OUTDOORS, YOU'RE NOT CREATING SPARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, A BIG ONE THOUGH IS TAKING TIME TO PREPARE AT HOME.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE REFRESHED THAT EMERGENCY KIT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU TO, TO PREPARE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS THE THINGS IN IT THAT YOU NEED IN CASE WE DO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE YOU EITHER HAVE TO EVACUATE OR STAY PUT IN YOUR HOUSE FOR, FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IT'S SHOULD HAVE WATER, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, MEDICATIONS, FLASHLIGHTS, PET FOOD IF YOU HAVE A PET, AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
AND MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR FAMILY SO THAT Y'ALL KNOW WHERE TO MEET IN CASE OF EMERGENCY OR OTHER DISASTERS.
IT REALLY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED TO BE PREPARED, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE INTENTION AND IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SO STAY INFORMED, MAKE A PLAN, LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND WE CAN MEET WHATEVER THIS SEASON BRINGS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JIM REDDICK.
WHERE ARE YOU, JIM? RIGHT HERE.
MY NAME IS JIM REDDICK, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS AUSTIN'S DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THIS IS A TIMELY TOPIC BECAUSE WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE UPDATE TO OUR DISASTER MITIGATION PLAN.
THE DISASTER MITIGATION ACT OF 2000 REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT AND STUDY THE THREATS AND HAZARDS, WHICH OUR, OUR COMMUNITY FACES, AND LEARN ABOUT THE FREQUENCY, THE IMPACTS, THE PULSE, UH, POTENTIAL VULNERABILITIES AND, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO TRY TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE THOSE THREATS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT SEVERE WEATHER IS, IS NOT AN UNKNOWN TO US.
WE STUDY IT VERY MUCH, AND WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE, UH, THE ODDS OF GETTING HIT WITH, UH, SEVERE WEATHER INCREASES, UH, EXPONENTIALLY.
SO WE KNOW THAT, UH, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, AND THESE THINGS HAD COME ABOUT REALLY QUICKLY AS WELL.
UM, SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM FLASH FLOOD, PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WARNING BECAUSE INDEED IT IS FLASH AND YOU NEED TO ACT ON THAT WITH A QUICKNESS.
SO WE HAVE A VERY, A VERY THOROUGH PLAN.
OUR EMERGENCY OPERATION PLAN FOCUSES ON ALL THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS AND ALL THE OTHER HAZARDS THAT ARE IN OUR MITIGATION PLAN.
UH, IT'S ALSO INCLUSIVE OF LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND A LOT OF OTHER PARTNERS.
AND THOSE OTHER PARTNERS INCLUDE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, NON-FOR-PROFIT, UM, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND K THROUGH 12.
THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THE MILITARY, THE FOCUS IS THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND YOU ARE PART OF THAT PLAN AS WELL.
SO, ALONG WITH KNOWING WHAT OUR PLAN SAYS, WE ASK THAT YOU ALSO PLAN FOR WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, UH, WHEN THERE'S A DISASTER OR AN ALERT COMING YOUR WAY.
SO BY THAT, IF YOU GET A TORNADO WARNING, WHERE ARE YOU GONNA GO? THINK ABOUT THAT AND PRACTICE IT WITH YOUR KIDS, WITH YOUR FAMILY.
GO TO THAT LOWER INNERMOST ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE FOR THAT TORNADO.
OR IF YOU GET A CALL TO EVACUATE, DON'T PONDER THE FACT, GO TO HIGHER GROUND WITH A QUICKNESS.
IT MAY BE JUST, IT MAY BE, UM, UNCOMFORTABLE AT FIRST, BUT BEING SAFE AND, AND, AND, AND JUST BEING SAFE THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF FLOODINGS IS REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
SO, UM, AFTER THE INCIDENT, WE ASK THAT YOU CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.
SO AGAIN, REGISTER FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET THOSE IPAS, THOSE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT MESSAGES ON YOUR PHONE.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TURNED ON TO RECEIVE PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS.
UM, AND ALSO CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.
GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE FIRST OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS BEFORE ANYONE CAN COME YOUR WAY.
AND IF WE DO THAT AND WE KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS AND WE RESPOND ACCORDING TO PLAN, THEN WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH ANYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY AS A COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE ERIC CARTER WITH TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, I'M ERIC CARTER, UH, CHIEF EMC FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO JUST KIND OF WRAP THIS UP, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE REPEATING OURSELVES FOR A REASON, RIGHT? THESE MESSAGES ARE IMPORTANT.
ONE, SIGN UP FOR WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.
IF YOU DO NOTHING TODAY, UH, BY THE END OF THE DAY, GET YOURSELF SIGNED UP.
UM, IT'S BETTER THAT YOU GET THE ALERT AND IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOU IMMEDIATELY WHERE YOU ARE VERSUS YOU'RE IN A HAZARD AREA AND YOU DON'T GET THE ALERT.
NUMBER NUMBER TWO THING IS MAKE THAT PLAN.
[00:10:01]
YOURSELF.MAKE THAT PLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
UH, KNOWING WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH IMPACT OF A DISASTER IS THE DIFFERENCE FROM BETWEEN JUST HAVING A TEMPORARY UNCOMFORTABLENESS 'CAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY AND, UH, A LONG-TERM DISLOCATION OR, OR A CATASTROPHE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THOSE NEXT STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE, UH, IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU GET THE WARNING, HOW TO STAY SAFE.
AND THEN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AFTER THE WARNING IS PASSED.
WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AS A HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE, RIGHT? BASIC FIRST AID FOR FAMILIES, IF THEIR INJURIES, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE, ARE THE, THE FOLKS BEHIND ME HAVE TALKED ABOUT PRIOR TO THAT.
THOSE ARE WHAT YOU, AS INDIVIDUALS, AS, AS FAMILIES, CAN DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
REST ASSURED THE PROFESSIONALS UP HERE OF THESE FIRST RESPONDERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO RESPOND, RESPOND QUICKLY TO, TO, TO, TO INTERVENE AND, AND, AND MAKE YOU SAFE AND MAKE YOUR NEIGHBOR SAFE.
BUT AS ALWAYS, AND I'LL REPEAT WHAT JIM SAID, YOU ARE THE FIRST FIRST RESPONDER, AND WE WANT YOU TO, WE WANT YOU TO ACT ACCORDINGLY.
UH, THAT'S THE BEST YOU CAN DO BOTH FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR YOURSELF.
I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR AND HE CAN ORCHESTRATE THAT.
I THINK, UH, WE GOT JORGE MORALES.
WITH, WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION HERE IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU ERIC.
AND I, I AM, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
UH, WE PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR WATERWAYS FROM FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER POLLUTION.
UH, DURING SEVERE WEATHER SEASON, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE FROM FLOODING DURING HEAVY RAIN EVENTS.
UH, SO I'M GONNA SHARE SEVERAL POINTS THAT I WANT TO COVER 'CAUSE IT'S OPPORTUNE TIME.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, BUT THIS IS THE TIME OF SEASON THAT WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF RAIN.
SO FLASH FLOODS CAN OCCUR QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, REMEMBER, WE ARE IN FLASH FLOOD ALLEY FOR A REASON.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE RISK AND KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN AS DISCUSSED.
ANOTHER SITE THAT I WANT TO SHARE THEM, UH, WE HAVEN'T SAID YET, IS ATX FLOOD SAFETY.COM.
SO IT HELPS YOU PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION WHAT YOU CAN DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER, UH, WEATHER EVENTS.
THERE ARE AREAS MOST OFTEN IMPACTED BY FLOODING ARE LOW WATER CROSSING.
SO I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
UH, AND WE HAVE A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT MONITORS THE SLOW WATER CROSSINGS.
AND WE KEEP BARRICADE CREWS ON, ON, ON STAFFED, COME OUT AND CLOSE THE ROADS AS NEEDED.
SO WE, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
UH, DON'T DRIVE THROUGH WATER.
UH, YOU'LL HEAR THIS OVER AND OVER AND WE DON'T GET TIRED OF REPEATING IT.
IT IS SOMETHING YOU HEAR BECAUSE, UH, IT KEEPS PEOPLE SAFE.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, MOST PEOPLE WHO DIE IN FLOODS DIE IN THEIR VEHICLES.
YOU CAN GO TO THE ATX FLOOD.COM SITE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT ROADS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSED, WHICH ONES MIGHT BE OPEN.
UH, THE WEBSITE HAS A LOT OF RESOURCES AS WELL.
SO I EXPLORE, UH, ASK, ASK YOU TO EXPLORE AND GET, GET FAMILIAR WITH IT.
AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THIS BECAUSE, UM, THIS IS THE SEASON THAT WE GET A LOT OF RAIN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS.
WE LOVE VISITORS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO ALSO KNOW THIS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU SEE ANYTHING, UH, ANY FLOODING, UH, IN YOUR HOME OR COMMUNITY, ALSO REPORT THROUGH 3 1 1.
THAT'S A GREAT TOOL THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN THAT HELPS US IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
EITHER DRAINS THAT ARE CLOGGED, THAT NEED TO BE UNCLOGGED, OR IF WE NEED TO HAVE CREWS COME OUT AND LOOK AT A SITUATION DURING AN EVENT AS WELL.
UM, DO NOT STACK TREE LIMBS OR BRUSH NEXT TO STORM SEWERS OR CULVERTS.
I KNOW IT'S A GREAT SPACE, BUT DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE THAT GOES INTO THE CULVERT.
IT CREATES A BLOCKAGE AND THEN IT CREATE FLOODING.
SO IF YOU HAVE DEBRIS OR TREE LIMBS THAT NEED TO BE COLLECTED BY AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, PLEASE CALL 3 1 1 AND SCHEDULE THAT COLLECTION SO IT CAN BE COLLECTED, UH, TIMING WISE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK THAT WE DO IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND SO, UH, I WANT TO ALSO MENTION THAT THIS IS THE FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK STARTED TODAY, AND IT GOES THROUGH APRIL 17TH, AND WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH A FLOOD SAFETY EVENT THIS WEEKEND AS WELL ON SATURDAY AT CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO I WANT TO DO A PLUG FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT, SO I WELCOME EVERYBODY TO COME TO THAT.
WE ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A ISD AND THE SCHOOL AS WELL.
BUT THE COMMUNITY CAN COME ENJOY ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL EXPERTS TO LEARN ABOUT FLOOD SAFETY AND TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE.
WE'LL ALSO BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF OUR FLOOD SAFETY VIDEO CONTESTS, WHERE WE ASK STUDENTS TO CREATE 32ND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO PROMOTE THE DANGERS OF DRIVING DURING FLOOD CONDITIONS.
I LOVE THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S OUR TEENAGERS THAT ARE GETTING IN THE VEHICLES, AND THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THIS PDAS FOR US.
WE HOPE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA CAN JOIN US AS WELL.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH AT CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY.
SO NEXT TO SPEAK IS, UH, WE HAVE JASON RUNAN FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
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RUNAN, THE WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO FORECAST OFFICE.
FLASH FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
UH, THIS REGION IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST FLASH PRONE AREA OF THE UNITED STATES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALSO LEAD THE NATION IN FLASH FLOOD FATALITIES.
SINCE 1996, THERE HAVE BEEN 316 FLASH FLOOD FATALITIES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
EVEN MORE LOCALLY, 33 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST TO FLASH FLOODING JUST IN TRAVIS COUNTY ALONE.
THESE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS THAT REPRESENT FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MANY OF THESE STRATEGIES ARE PREVENTABLE.
AND THIS STARTS WITH AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS.
UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU LIVE OR ARE VACATIONING IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA, AND THINK ABOUT YOUR DAILY ROUTINES.
DOES YOUR COMMUTE TAKE YOU THROUGH FLOOD PRONE ROADS? THESE ARE OFTEN THE MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS DURING HEAVY RAINFALL.
SECOND, STAY WEATHER AWARE, ESPECIALLY ON DAYS WHERE FLOOD WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT.
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR LIFE THREATENING FLOODING SOMEWHERE IN THE WATCH AREA, AND IT'S YOUR CUE TO BE PREPARED AND PLAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT DAY.
THIRD, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS OF RECEIVING WARNINGS.
DON'T RELY JUST ON ONE METHOD.
USE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS, TRUSTED WEATHER APPS, NOA WEATHER RADIO, AND LOCAL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS LIKE WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG.
REDUNDANCY CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A VERY CRITICAL ISSUE.
RECENT STUDY HAS INDICATED 30% OF TEXANS HAVE DISABLED THEIR WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE A MOMENT TODAY TO CHECK YOUR NOTIFICATION SETTINGS.
IF YOU HAVE AN IPHONE, ENSURE EMERGENCY AND PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS ARE TURNED ON IN YOUR NOTIFICATION SETTINGS ON ANDROID DEVICES.
MAKE SURE EXTREME AND SEVERE THREAT ALERTS ARE ENABLED.
THESE ALERTS ARE DESIGNED TO NOTIFY YOU OF LIFE-THREATENING WEATHER EVENTS WHEN SECONDS MATTER.
FINALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.
IF YOU LIVE NEAR OR ARE VISITING AREAS WITH CREEKS, STREAMS, RIVERS MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, FLASH FLOODING CONCUR MILES AWAY FROM WHERE IT'S RAINING OR FALLING.
SO EVEN IF IT'S NOT RAINING WHERE YOU ARE, DANGER STILL MAY BE NEARBY IF YOU'RE ON THE ROAD.
REMEMBER, UH, TO REMAIN ALERT FOR FLOODED.
ROADWAYS NEVER ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED WOOL WATERS, UH, THE MAYOR MENTIONED JUST ONE FOOT OF MOVING WATER CAN SWEEP A SMALL CAR AWAY, AND AS LITTLE AS 18 TO 24 INCHES CAN SWEEP AWAY TRUCKS AND SUVS.
THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE IN LIFE SAVING, TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.
FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S A REMINDER THAT PREPAREDNESS SAVES LIVES.
BY KNOWING YOUR RISK, STAYING INFORMED, AND TAKING ACTION WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED, WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRAGEDIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS, CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, THANK YOU JASON, AND, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL, ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE AND FOR Y'ALL THAT ARE GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS.
LEMME TELL YOU, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US SOMEBODY FROM, UH, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY MAN, UH, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, UH, WITH AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM OUR HOMELESS, UH, STRATEGIES AND OPERATIONS, AUSTIN ENERGY AND AUSTIN WATER.
SO ANY, ANY, WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE.
SO LET ME OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AFTER THAT SPEECH.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
UM, YEAH, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT YOU, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION OFF TOPIC.
LET, LET'S GET, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING SEASONAL NEWS CONFERENCE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE? OKAY.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND I'M GONNA PITCH THIS TO ONE OF Y'ALL
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD REITERATE YOUR POINT AND IF YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT.
NO, UH, THE UPDATE IS, I, I DO HAVE AN UPDATE.
THE UPDATE IS THAT, UH, A MEMO HAS NOW GONE OUT AND THE TWO ITEMS THAT, UH, I AM OPPOSED TO AND WAS CALLING FOR THEM NOT TO BE HEARD, WON'T BE, UH, UH, VOTED ON ON WEDNESDAY.
SO I'M PLEASED THAT MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERNS WERE LISTENED TO AND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BETTER ANALYSIS OF WHAT, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP OUGHT TO DO.
UM, TO REITERATE, WHICH WAS PART OF YOUR QUESTION, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS COMING WEDNESDAY FOR THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP,
[00:20:02]
UH, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A PROJECT CONNECT AND AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, UH, THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAPITAL METRO AND A TP ITSELF.UH, TWO OF THOSE ITEMS INVOLVED LEASING SPACE IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
UH, ITEM ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS TO ENTER INTO A LEASE THAT WOULD, UH, COST UP TO $32 MILLION, UH, OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD FOR THAT OFF DOWNTOWN OFFICE SPACE.
AND THE SECOND ITEM WAS ONE THAT WOULD, WOULD, UH, AUTHORIZED UP TO $15 MILLION FOR BUILDING OUT THE SPACE.
UH, I THINK THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THAT.
UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I HAD, UH, TALKED TO, UH, THE LEADERSHIP AT A TP ABOUT LOOKING INTO CO-LOCATING, UH, ATP'S STAFF AND ANY OF THE NEW CONSULTANTS THAT A TP IS GOING TO NEED TO BE BRINGING IN, IN ORDER TO BUILD THIS, UH, GENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT THE VOTERS HAVE TOLD US THEY WANT TO HAVE.
AND I SAID, UH, WE SHOULD CLEARLY LOOK AT HAVING THESE TWO PUBLIC ENTITIES CO-LOCATE, UH, BOTH FOR COST SAVINGS AND TO BUILD IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS AS PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
I'M DISAPPOINTED, UH, THAT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE GOING FORWARD.
UH, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IT GO FORWARD NOW.
UM, BUT, UH, AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS, UH, SERIOUSLY CUTTING, UH, SERVICES THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, AT A TIME WHEN TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, IS BEING CHALLENGED FOR NEEDING TO BE PUT TAX DOLLARS INTO WHAT WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT, UH, RECOVERY FOR FLOODING DISASTERS.
WHEN A TIME, AT A TIME WHEN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CLOSING SCHOOLS AND STILL FACING DEFICITS, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT WHAT WE WOULD DO, UH, IS HAVE THAT PUBLIC CORPORATION, UH, THAT PUBLIC ENTITY CORP, THAT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION, UH, BE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY IF WE CAN SAVE MONEY OTHERWISE.
AND THEN THE FINAL THING I'LL SAY ABOUT IT IS, UH, TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID THIS MORNING, IS THAT, UH, IT, IT'S LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE CI, THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, VOTED DOWN A TAX RATE ELECTION, UM, AND SENT WHAT I THINK IS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THOSE OF US IN PUBLIC LIFE.
AND THAT IS THAT THAT AFFORDABILITY REMAINS A VERY KEY AND IMPORTANT THING IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.
UH, THAT, THAT FAILED, THAT THAT INITIATIVE FAILED IN, UH, POOR AND RICH NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT FAILED IN LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE PRECINCTS, UH, AND IT FAILED ALL OVER AUSTIN.
AND WE NEED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE AND ACT APPROPRIATELY.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, NOT ANYTHING THAT I CAN POINT TO HAS HAPPENED THAT HAS MADE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE VOTERS IN AUSTINITES.
IF ANYTHING, THINGS HAVE BECOME LESS AFFORDABLE WITH THE PRICE OF OIL AND, UH, INFLATION, UH, DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME THAT AUSTINITES HAVE.
SO I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY, AS YOU MIGHT CAN TELL, THAT THAT WAS AN ITEM THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO GO FORWARD WITH.
I'M PLEASED THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD.
AND NOW WE NEED TO SCRUTINIZE THE NEXT STEPS TO ASSURE THAT WE'RE EVALUATING WHAT WE DO WITH OFFICE SPACE SO THAT WE'RE SAVING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND SHOWING THE GOOD WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY A TP, THAT WE STILL HAVE THE BACKS OF OUR VOTERS AS WE BUILD THIS, UH, PRO PROJECT THAT THEY SAY THEY WANT.
MAYOR, IF YOU COULD, COULD YOU SPEAK A BIT ABOUT THE, THE SINKHOLE, THE WATER MAIN BREAK ON RED RIVER TODAY? SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT AGENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WELL, I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO HAVE, UH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND OF COURSE, THE, WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS IN TO 3 1 1 AND SAYS THAT THEY'VE GOT IT, UH, WE WERE ON THAT, UH, VERY QUICKLY.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT, UH, IS HOW WE REPLACE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE GO ALONG.
AGAIN, KEEPING AFFORDABILITY IN MIND, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE AS PART OF THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE WALNUT CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT'S UNDERGOING A MAJOR, UH, UPGRADE AND RECONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE PAY ATTENTION TO.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A BALANCE THAT WE HAVE TO STRIKE IN A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
ON THE ONE HAND, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, UH, SERVICES IN THE CITY THAT, THAT ARE UPGRADED QUALITY AND FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DO IT IN A WAY WHERE THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER, UH, ISN'T SO MUCH THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY IN AUSTIN.
BUT WE, WE, THAT, UH, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT THAT WAS CALLED IN QUICKLY AND I'M GLAD THAT, UH, AUSTIN WATER WAS READY TO MOVE ON THAT, SIR.
AND JUST LASTLY, KINDA JUST SPEAKING TO
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THE CITIZENS WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A POPULATED AREA, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? WELL, WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN POPULATED AREAS, AND, AND, AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PART OF BEING IN A CITY.UM, WE ARE A BIG CITY AND WE HAVE, UM, UH, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT NEED TO BE UPGRADED.
THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT, UH, FOR AUSTIN OR OTHERWISE.
IT IS A, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AGES.
INFRASTRUCTURE BREAKS, JUST LIKE THINGS IN YOUR HOME BREAK AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
THAT'S WHY WE, WE HAVE A ROUTINE THAT WE TRY TO FOLLOW IN THOSE REGARDS, UM, THAT THAT IS PART OF CITY LIFE.
ANYTHING ELSE? I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE THE MEDIA GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT.