Austin’s warnings about ice storms, power outages will improve, mayor says

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Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has promised to revamp the town’s emergency communications after officers fumbled warnings about this week’s ice storm and the following power outages that will final days for a lot of residents.

At the town’s first press convention about the emergency — which got here greater than a day after tens of hundreds of Austin Energy clients misplaced power — Watson stated he shares the frustration of many residents who’ve criticized delayed warnings.

“I will admit that I deferred to folks so that they could be doing the jobs that they needed to do and [are] experts in the area, but I am frustrated and I know others are frustrated,” he stated.

More than 150,000 Austin-area households and companies remained with out power as Watson spoke. Austin Energy stated electrical energy gained’t be totally restored till 6 p.m. Friday.

Watson acknowledged that the town ought to have had a press convention earlier than Thursday to reply questions about the extended native power outages. He famous that the town is dedicated to doing an identical occasion, probably Thursday afternoon or night, to maintain residents up to date.

Watson stated the town will revisit its communication protocols as soon as it totally addresses the present outages.

“I want people to know, though, that we intend to ensure that lack of communication does not happen, and the protocols of communication in disaster will be reassessed and re-created,” he stated.

At the press convention, Watson was joined by a number of county and metropolis officers, together with Austin Energy normal supervisor Jackie Sargent.