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By Alia Shoaib
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The city of Austin, Texas, is preparing for winter weather as cold snaps and winter storms become increasingly frequent.
The city's nearly 1 million residents have been advised to be proactive and prepare for extreme weather conditions as winter sets in.
"Being proactive is key to preparedness," Bill Wilson, interim director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said in a statement released by the city of Austin.
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"We may be hit with snow, ice, and extreme cold, which can affect you, your loved ones, and pets. It can disrupt electricity, water, gas, roads, and other things people rely on. We are here to help you prepare, so you are in a better position when winter weather hits."
To prepare, people are advised to protect the four "Ps"—people, pets, pipes, and plants.
The four steps of preparedness are to make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbors, and stay informed.
Officials have also provided extensive guidance on how to prepare for issues caused by cold weather and how to prepare homes for winter. This includes repairing drafty areas, insulating pipes and keeping emergency items in homes and vehicles.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and other officials said in a press conference on Wednesday that the city was preparing for winter, but that residents should also be prepared themselves.
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"Start out by looking at your house, looking at your apartment, seeing what you have to keep yourself warm to travel safely, to prepare for power outages should they occur and to work and play outside in the cold. A little bit of attention now will save a lot of headaches later on when making preparations," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.
The city has been preparing emergency warming shelters, which will be activated when the temperature drops to 35 degrees.
It has also begun cutting tree limbs to minimize storm hazards and is insulating and securing power lines.
Central Texas is especially prone to extreme weather events, ranging from extreme heat and flooding to in recent years more extreme cold, snow and ice.
The Austin area has suffered from winter storms in 2021, 2022, and 2023, with 2021's being a historic week-long event that led to mass disruption and the deaths of hundreds of people.
Watson, who has been mayor since 2023, made the pledge to prepare the city for another storm following the one that year.
"It's that time of year where we start thinking about this in earnest and we want everyone to be thinking about it at the same time," he said in Wednesday's press conference.
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