Austin News

As an excessive heat wave continues to affect Central Texas, the City of Austin is encouraging you to practice heat awareness.

For some, the heat is more than just an inconvenience, it is a serious health hazard. Austin has opened its public libraries and parks & recreation facilities as cooling centers during normal operations for anyone needing a safe spot to escape the heat. Use CapMetro's trip planner to find the best route to your closest facility.

It’s important to recognize heat-related illnesses. Knowing how to identify symptoms like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can save lives. If you or someone you know is experiencing heat stroke, move them, cool them, and call 911.

Remember to stay hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day can prevent heat-related illness. Drink water regularly, even if you are not thirsty to avoid becoming dehydrated. If your pet is outdoors with you, bring plenty of drinking water for them as well.

Austin Transportation & Public Works Department (TPW) employees working in the field include staff enforcing parking regulations, installing signs and street markings and working in traffic signals.

Parking Enterprise crews take a 15-minute break every hour.  We send staff out with camel packs, cooling towels, sunscreen and other items to safeguard against sun exposure. We also have hydration teams that do wellness checks and deliver cool drinks as well.

Our other field crews will shift after July 4 to earlier start times by an hour: 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (instead of 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). Some crews will begin as early as 5 a.m. to reduce heat exposure. Staff are advised to take breaks regularly in their vehicles with air conditioning, but there's no formal policy on how many/how long/etc.

TPW must also be prepared if the state’s electric grid is compromised due to the heat. If there is a power grid failure, some of the city’s signals may go dark or flashing red. Of the approximately 1,150 traffic signals in Austin, about half have battery backup power that will allow them to operate for 3-4 hours after an electrical outage before turning to flash. The City plans to install battery backup at the remaining signals over the next five years.

If you approach a signal that is flashing or dark in a vehicle, treat it as an all-way stop, drive alert and stay safe. You can find more information on resources available in a heat emergency at AustinTexas.gov/Alerts. 

Original source can be found here.