Frostweed in North Austin (Bruce Whitaker)
AUSTIN (KXAN) — City of Austin and Travis County leaders will give updates Tuesday morning about their response to winter weather.
The news conference will start at 11 a.m. and will be streamed at the top of this story and on KXAN’s Facebook page.
The city said in a release Tuesday morning Austin’s Office of Homeland Security is coordinating the city’s response with other emergency service departments and non-government organizations through the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center, or EOC.
The EOC will remain operational until further notice, according to the release, as severe cold and winter weather are expected to remain in the area through Wednesday morning and another cold front is expected later in the week.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team is forecasting another Arctic cold front to blow through late Thursday night, reinforcing the cold air Friday and Saturday.
The following leaders are expected to speak at the press conference: Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Interim City Manager Jesús Garza, Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Ken Snipes and Travis County Office of Emergency Management Chief Emergency Management Coordinator Eric Carter.
How to prepare for weather emergencies
HSEM is asking all members of the community to take necessary actions to protect themselves and other household members for the weather. Information on preparing for, withstanding and recovering from a variety of emergencies is available online at ReadyCentralTexas.org.
Critical updates from the city will be posted online on the city’s Emergency Information Hub in 14 languages.
Updates will also be posted on Austin HSEM’s Facebook and Twitter and shared to the official City of Austin accounts.
The city recommends that residents not call 911 unless they have a medical or life-threatening emergency. If you need other types of service or assistance from the city, call 311 or 512-974-2000. The city said keeping 911 lines clear for only emergencies will aid the city to properly dispatch first responders and emergency personnel to those who need help.
Residents can also sign up to receive emergency alerts on their phones by visiting WarnCentralTexas.org. Alerts can be sent via text, call, and/or email.
