Dear Neighbors,
We are living through this nightmare together and I know how hard this is on all of us. You have shared countless stories of your continuing difficulties. I am doing all that I can to provide relief. And I will continue until every resident has electricity and water restored. When we exit this crisis, I will focus on ensuring something like this never happens again.
I would like to provide an update on the water and energy situation in Austin and provide some limited good news. I sincerely hope we will have more good news to share soon. Regardless, I will share the facts with you as I receive them.
AUSTIN WATER:
As of this morning, all of Austin Water’s treatment plants (including Ullrich) are operating in a stable mode. We continue to face significant challenges to restore water distribution throughout the system. Last night Austin Water issued a water boil notice asking all customers to boil water used for cooking or drinking. We continue to need those with water service to conserve.
I think it is important for people to understand that the boil water notice is a precautionary action. Austin Water has not detected contaminants in the water they are providing. As in 2018, these measures are being followed to ensure the health and safety of AW customers. Due to the length of time needed to accurately test water for contaminants you should anticipate that there will be a time lag before we can announce the water is safe again.
It is positive news that the plant is back online. Even so, water use has far exceeded typical water usage and exceeded water production by 250 percent over the past 24 hours. Water pressure and water storage have significantly dropped throughout Austin Water’s service area. Our water is a system and those with water service can assist. The more that we conserve, the closer we will be to stabilizing the system and restoring water for other residents.
If you have water and wish to set aside water for use, limit water use to essential needs;
Austin Water has indicated you can turn off dripping faucets indoors and outdoors so long as temperatures stay above freezing:
Delay the use of appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers;
Report water main breaks to Austin Water at 512-972-1000 or fill out the Leak Report Web Form (https://www.austintexas.gov/page/austin-water-issue-report-form?);
If pipes at your home or business have burst, stop water waste by turning off your water at the property-owners cut-off valve. If you are unable to locate your property-owners cut-off valve or if it won’t work, then call Austin Water at 512-972-1000 for assistance with turning off your water.
We recognize that you are concerned about your pipes. You can also open cabinets and wrap your pipes instead of allowing water to drip. Again, every little bit helps.
Austin Water is working with the City's Emergency Operations Center to address the needs of critical customers, including hospitals and power plants.
We do not have a timeline on when full service will be restored at this time.
We know that some customers do not have water service and returning your service is our priority. Austin Water will provide additional updates as they become available. I also have requested tips for house proofing for when water is restored and will share those when I receive them.
We know some residents do not have any water. Boiling snow or ice will make it microbiologically safe for consumption, but only if it hasn't been contaminated (think, sludge or snow off the street). Use the absolute cleanest snow you can find. Ideally, if you have traditionally potable water, save that for consumption, and use boiled snow/ice for bathing, dishwashing, etc.
We also know that some residents have no means to boil water. The City is working to set up water distribution centers around the city just like was done in 2018. Once those are operational I will provide notice. Just as with toilet paper in spring of 2020 or bottled water in 2018, I would like to remind you that hoarding by any of us makes the situation worse.
To report a water or wastewater emergency, report a leak or main break, fill out the Leak Report Web Form (https://www.austintexas.gov/page/austin-water-issue-report-form?). We are also working to get this form translated and posted in other languages.
Austin Energy:
The power situation is improving, and Austin Energy has been able to restore power to thousands of customers. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — the Texas grid manager — is not currently mandating outages and has allowed AE to work through the night to energize numerous circuits and get power flowing.
Circumstances continue to evolve. Wednesday’s ice storm also brought outages to our system. AE crews are out in the community to bring customers back online, as ERCOT requests allow. Ice brings unique challenges to restoration efforts on the electric grid.
Restoring power is a process and has varying factors that impact it. Ice adds additional weight to tree limbs, forcing branches to lean and fall on power lines and causing outages. Ice also builds up on electric equipment, adding to the overall weight of a line. Half an inch of ice can add as much as 500 pounds to a power line, and the additional weight can cause the line to break. Ice buildup on lines also creates situations where the powerlines react more to wind gusts.
Depending on the right angle that the wind is blowing, the lines could snap and cause an extended outage. Ice buildup on other electric system equipment also poses an issue, such as a switch not operating correctly. During a typical outage, it may be possible for a crew to isolate sections of a line quickly to restore power to more customers. During an ice storm, some equipment might require crews to perform additional work to operate that same switch resulting in much longer outages. This additional time is required to ensure that the crews can safely restore power to customers.
If you are experiencing an outage, report it immediately to Austin Energy by calling 512-322-910 or using their website https://austinenergy.ifactornotifi.com/ui/outage-reporting/. My office has made Austin Energy aware of the issue where the outage map reports power is restored when it is not. They have assured us that if folks call in and report, a ticket will be opened for your address. It is very important to continue to report these outages directly to Austin Energy.
You can help us avoid cold load pickup by:
Lowering your thermostat.
Turning off or unplugging any fixtures or appliances.
Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back
These measures will help gradually add load to the circuit.
For those with power, conservation continues to help. You can:
Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, if possible.
Keep doors and windows closed to minimize hot air from escaping the home.
Unplug nonessential electronics as they still draw current.
Avoid using large appliances.
TEXAS GAS:
The demand for natural gas continues to outpace supply. Please conserve your gas usage as much as possible. When your power is restored, please wait 15-30 minutes to turn on gas appliances, especially the gas furnace. Similar to the “cold load” problem for electricity, when gas power is restored we must be careful not to overload the system or risk a shortage or service delivery problems.
WARMING SHELTERS:
The City of Austin and Travis County have established the following centers for members of the public. If you can safely shelter at your home, please do so. We must preserve these limited spaces for those who are vulnerable and have medical equipment that require power to operate. If you plan to travel to these sites, please be prepared to arrive at your destination safely – dress in layers for warmth, bring extra blankets, phone chargers, water, and snacks. UPDATE: The Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road is at capacity. For individuals that show up at Palmer Events Center today looking for shelter, we have arranged for Capital Metro to provide rides to the Del Valle Shelter location. These other shelter options continue to have capacity:
Lee Elementary School, 3308 Hampton Road: Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Murchison Middle School, 3700 North Hills Dr.: Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Salvation Army Shelter, 501 E. 8th Street: Families should report here. Use Capital Metro bus routes 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10.
Del Valle High School, 5201 Ross Road
Mendez Middle School, 5106 Village Square Drive
Webb Middle School, 601 E. St Johns Ave
Reilly Elementary School, 405 Denson Drive
Joslin Elementary School, 4500 Menchaca Road: Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Barrington Elementary School, 400 Cooper Dr.: Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Austin Disaster Relief Network has partnered with churches in the area that are serving as shelters. Among the shelter options closest to District 10 neighborhoods experiencing extended outages is the Mosaic Church located at 12116 Jekel Circle, 78757. A list of other church shelters can be found here: www.adrn.org/shelters . They do not have full services and people should bring supplies and blankets.
For individuals who are unable to shelter in place and must travel to one of the shelters due to medical necessity, please contact 311 to arrange transportation. You can also email coaemergencyrides@austintexas.gov and provide your name, phone number, address, number of people needing transport and medical needs. Transportation resources are extremely limited, and the public is asked to reserve this resource for our most vulnerable population, especially those who require power for their medical devices.
For additional information:
The City has scheduled a press conference for 2 PM today (accessible virtually at www.facebook.com/AustinHSEM) to address the ongoing severe weather and its impact on Austin and Travis County residents, utilities, and services. Governor Abbott will provide an update on the state's response to winter weather conditions and power outages at 3PM, usually broadcast on Texas Tribune, KXAN, and Spectrum.
For Cold Weather Information & Resources, please monitor local news and City social media accounts or visit:
Please continue to check on your neighbors, particularly the vulnerable and elderly. We will continue to send newsletters as needed to update you of new information. We also regularly post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AlisonAlterForAustin) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/ALTERforATX).
Sincerely,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10
