Austin Weather Latest: Still No Timeline On Utility Restoration

AUSTIN, TX — Hopes for the speedy return of water and power service in Austin remained scarce on Friday, at least from the viewpoints of city officials who spoke during an afternoon news conference addressing the city's return from winter devastation.

Although drinkable water probably won't be flowing from residents' faucets any time soon, drinkable water is its way to Austin, according to City ManagerSpencer Cronk.

Small deliveries of water — those made up of fewer than 20 pallets — will be distributed to hospitals, shelters, warming centers and vulnerable populations across Austin, Cronk said. More details are expected to be released late Friday.

Another million gallons of water purchased by the city will also arrive Friday, along with an initial delivery of 36 pallets of water from FEMA, Cronk said. Additional water deliveries from FEMA are expected throughout the weekend.

Cronk said drinkable water will be distributed across a network of sites that are easy for Austin residents to access, even with slick roads remaining prevalent in the area. Distribution sites will operate from sunrise to sundown and will offer one case of water per car.

Community organizations like churches and nonprofits will be charged with distributing drinkable water to vulnerable populations like senior citizens and people experiencing homelessness, and the city's office of emergency operations will provide bulk water deliveries to hospitals and health care facilities, he said.

Cronk said city officials also met this week with area grocery store leaders to identify city and regional partnerships that can help stores restock and reopen.

If you are able to purchase water, we encourage you to do so in an effort to try and ensure we are prioritizing those that need it the most at these distribution sites," Cronk said. "There will likely be purchase limits to these items, and we urge you to be patient with all staff working at these stores."

'Significant Improvements' Ahead For Austin Water Customers

During the news conference, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said the utility provider has made "good progress" over the past day in refilling its reservoirs and returning water service to customers in the central zone

"I anticipate through the weekend that the majority of our customers will see significant improvements in service with regard to the return of pressure," Meszaros said

The return of water service will not be instantaneous, Meszaros said. Customers should expect to see variations in water pressure and discolored water before service returns to normal. A boil water notice remained in effect for all of Austin as of Friday afternoon.

A water service map updated late Friday morning showed Austin’s central water zone had low pressure and outlying zones to the north and south were still experiencing water outages.

"We encourage customers, as they receive improved service, to continue to actively conserve water. Minimise use to the essentials. Don’t try to catch up on all of your laundry, do all of your dishes or take multiple showers," Meszaros said. "We want to build our system up slowly. It’s still very tender and fragile from this event."

Meszaros said as other water zones come online, Austin Water expects to find additional water main breaks that will have to be repaired.

Water service is expected to improve throughout the weekend, and efforts to again make water drinkable will continue through next week.

"We still have a ways to go," Meszaros said.

ERCOT Ends Statewide Power Limitations

Austin Energy is also working to mend lines and restore power to all its customers, said Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent.

While no clear timeline exists on when full service will be restored, Sargent said there is good news: ERCOT has ended its statewide emergency conditions, meaning Austin Energy is no longer required to conduct rotating blackouts.

"There’s more energy supply, including reserves, to meet customer demand and then some," Sargent said. "However, that doesn’t mean our work is done. In fact, the hardest days may still lie ahead of us and others as utilities across the state work diligently to restore every customer who has been impacted by this event."

Sargent said delays are caused by icy equipment, worker protection measures and physical obstructions to power lines like felled trees.

"Full restoration may take several days," she said. "I want you to know that all available Austin Energy crews, along with additional contract crews that have been brought in, are working around the clock to safely restore power as quickly as possible."

As of noon on Friday, approximately 22,000 Austin Energy customers were still without power, Sargent said.

Much like with Austin Water's attempts to bring various service zones back online, Austin Energy also anticipates it will find roadblocks along the way that must be repaird. Even if a zone or neighborhood is again energized, individual homes or blocks of homes may have to await further repairs before power is restored, Sargent said.

"This has been an extreme weather event," she said. "Please know we will not stop until every customer’s service has been restored. Our crews are working hard. They are committed to getting your lights back on."

Residents experiencing an outage that is not represented on the Austin Energy outage map might be affected by an issue like a downed power line. Customers whose outages are not shown on the map are asked to call 512-322-9100.

Crews Work To De-Ice Roads, But Potholes Emerge

Public works crews across Austin have been working to apply salt and sand to high-traffic roadways and bridges in an effort to thaw black ice from roadways and increase mobility across the city, said Public Works Director Richard Mendoza.

As of Friday afternoon, road crews had cleared ice from 180 miles of priority streets in Austin and treated 28 bridges and elevated surfaces for ice. Mendoza said crews had also cleared debris like fallen trees from roadways, sidewalks and crosswalks.

"Expect roadway conditions to improve tomorrow and through the weekend," he said. "We ask you in the meantime to limit travel to only necessary trips and stick to larger arterials and major roadways."

Public works crews will be standing by overnight to address any icy roads that persist through the city's last night of sub-freezing temperatures.

Crews will also continue working through the weekend to repair traffic signals affected by the city's power outages, of which there are thousands. Mendoza said the public works department aims to restore function to its traffic signals by Monday morning, starting with major intersections.

Intersections with nonfunctional traffic lights should be treated as four-way stops.

Once the immediate threat of power outages and ice is removed from Austin's roadways, crews will set to work repairing potholes that were caused by ice and water leaks, Mendoza said.

Residents are asked to report potholes and roadway obstructions using the Austin 311 mobile app, calling 311 or calling 512-972-2000.