Overview
- City and county leaders called for emergency plans, seven days of medications and backup oxygen, and attention to people, pets, plants and pipes.
- The National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office remains the authoritative source for freeze warnings and winter weather advisories used by local planners.
- Residents are encouraged to enroll in Warn Central Texas and use the Ready Central Texas app for location-specific alerts by phone, text or email.
- Officials said power outages are likely this winter, and the fire department urged safe heating practices, detector testing and clearance around heaters after more than 100 winter fires in the past five years.
- Cold-weather shelters open when forecasts drop into the mid-30s, with 143 people sheltered on Dec. 14 and two families placed in a hotel, and travelers are directed to TxDOT’s DriveTexas for real-time road conditions.