Updated 2/10/2022: Winter storm response
Updated Feb. 10, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 update: Winter Storm response
The following is a summary of the City’s response to Winter Storm Landon Feb. 2-5, 2022.
Water
- Pre-winter: Insulated pipes, installed heat tape, and heaters
- 3 days of 24-hour staff coverage (Thur – Sat) to operate and protect plants and equipment
- Water and wastewater treatment plant staff slept on site to ensure treatment plants stayed operational
- 4 minor water leaks affecting less than 20 customers for a few hours
- 3 generators (500-kilowatts each) stationed at Stonewall, Hoover, and Pastor pump stations
- 2 industrial heaters at Leander and Sequoia pump stations to prevent freezing
- Staff visited dozens of sites to turn off 75 construction hydrant meters to limit losses to the system and damages to property
- 60 customer calls: employees advised residents with frozen pipes
- Non-field staff provided 24-hour food service and delivery to staff, including those working long shifts in freezing temperatures
- Retained construction contractor for standby
Electric
- Last summer: Extensive tree trimming and maintenance programs helped to keep outages low
- 24 hours out: Electric crews patrolled known trouble spots for tree-related outages and cleared limbs
- During winter storm: Crews were staged and on rotating shifts to provide 24-hour response
- Feb 3: 1 power outage effecting 1 customer
- Feb 4: 2 power outages affecting 7 and 9 customers respectively
- Feb 5: 1 power outage affecting a total of 4 customers
Public Works
- 750 gallons of deicer placed on bridges and roadways
- 120 cubic yards of sand spread on bridges and roadways
- 3 days of 24-hour staff coverage to treat icy roads
Police
- 32 motor vehicle crashes (compared to 13 crashes in prior week)
- Provided transport for City employees in critical services
Fire
The Fire/Medical Department responded to 132 calls Feb. 3-5 during the winter storm event, which represents a 35 percent increase over the Jan. 2022 average on Feb. 3 and a 15 percent increase on Feb. 4. Calls included:
- 89 medical/EMS calls
- 25 fire calls (including fire alarms)
- 14 motor vehicle collision calls
- 4 assist calls
Customer Care
Phone calls received during the storm event:
- 156: Thursday, Feb. 3
- 292: Friday, Feb. 4
- 15: Saturday, Feb. 5 (8 a.m.-noon)
Communications
- 130,000 persons reached on City Twitter, Facebook, and NextDoor pages
- 7,000 engagements on City Twitter and Facebook pages
- 5,205 City website page views on storm post
- +60 total news releases, social media posts, and website updates
4:30 p.m. Friday Update
City facilities remained closed on Friday. However, most City facilities normally open on Saturday will open at 12 noon tomorrow, Feb. 5. This includes:
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
The Art Center, 816 S. Main St., will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open normal Saturday hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Tennis Center will not be open on Saturday.
Public restrooms and drinking fountains in City parks remain closed through Monday.
Water leaks and repairs
For water leaks due to frozen pipes, please email Customer Care at leak@georgetown.org. To speed the repair process through Feb. 18, permits will not be needed for property owners making minor plumbing repairs due to water leaks caused by freezing temperatures this week.
Utility outages
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) continues to report sufficient generation in the state to meet the high demand as a result of cold temperatures.
If you are experiencing an electric or water outage and are a City of Georgetown customer, please first refer to our online outage maps to confirm we know about your outage. If you don’t see your location included in the outage, please call 512-930-3640. Please note calls may take longer to connect with the City’s outage system.
Many Georgetown residents may not have City electric. Other area providers include:
Oncor: stormcenter.oncor.com
PEC: outages.pec.coop
Personal safety
Georgetown residents should avoid travel if possible and exercise caution while driving. Look for icy spots on roads as water refreezes in the evening and overnight hours. Visit drivetexas.org for road conditions.
Residents are encouraged to drip their faucets to help prevent damage to water pipes. In the event of frozen pipes, people should turn off their water at the main shut-off valve.
The City is working with The Caring Place and the Ministerial Alliance to provide after-hours assistance in the form of emergency hotel stay vouchers for those needing shelter when temperatures are 32 degrees or below, or the temperature is 35 degrees or below and it is raining. Vouchers are limited.
During business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), people can call The Caring Place at 512-943-0700 and follow the prompts for basic needs assistance.
If someone needs assistance after-hours, and all other options have been exhausted, they can call the Police non-emergency line at 512-930-3510.
Curative COVID-19 testing site
The COVID-19 testing site located at 707 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St. (near the Georgetown Public Library) will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday for same-day molecular NAAT tests.
To schedule a same-day molecular NAAT test, which provides results in fewer than four hours, click here.
City response
Street crews continue to apply deicer treatment to bridges and the roads as needed. However, many icy spots remain since temperatures will remain below freezing tonight and tomorrow morning.
City staff have taken several steps to improve the resiliency of our utility infrastructure as a result of last year’s winter storm. For this storm, staff have placed generators at key City water facilities and are increasing water tank capacities to summer peak-demand levels.
Forecast
Electricity
As of Friday afternoon, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) continues to report sufficient generation in the state to meet the high demand as a result of the storm. ERCOT, the Texas energy grid operator, issued a winter weather watch in effect Feb. 2-6 due to the winter weather. In the news release on Feb. 2, ERCOT, “projects to have sufficient generation to meet the high demand for electricity.”
There is a chance for isolated or sporadic power outages due to ice and gusty winds. However, the City has taken steps to reduce the chance of outages on the Georgetown electric system related to equipment or power lines. Click here to read more about our winter-weather resiliency efforts.
If you are experiencing an outage, please first refer to our online outage maps to confirm we know about your outage. If you don’t see your location included in the outage, please call 512-930-3640 to report it. Please note calls may take longer to connect with the City’s outage system.
Many Georgetown residents may not have City electric. Other area providers include:
Oncor: https://stormcenter.oncor.com/
PEC: https://outages.pec.coop/dmsoutagemap/default.html
Water
There is a risk for damage to exposed pipes during this hard freeze, especially across the Hill Country. When water freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe.
You can help prevent damage to your own pipes by letting your faucets drip during extended periods of freezing temperatures. Leaving cabinet doors open in areas of water pipes can also help.
In the event of frozen pipes, it’s recommended that you turn off your water at the main shut-off valve to prevent additional damage when the pipes unfreeze. To learn how to find and operate your main shut-off valve, click here.
Generators have been placed at key City water facilities that were out during winter storm Uri. All equipment has been winterized. All water tanks are being taken up to high, summer peak-demand levels.
Roads
City Response
Parks and Recreation
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Crews winterized and closed restrooms and water fountains Wednesday morning. Park restrooms and fountains will remain closed until Monday. Anti-icing liquid will be applied at recreation facilities as necessary. Some facilities will open at noon Saturday. Click here for more information regarding recreation facility closings.
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Police and Fire
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- Patrol is at full staff with additional officers ready to assist as needed.
- All fire and EMS have tire chains. Additional four-wheel drive units are on standby.
Resources
Shelter
A risk for hypothermia exists for those spending extended time outdoors and not dressed in layers and gloves.
The City is working with The Caring Place and the Ministerial Alliance to provide after-hours assistance in the form of emergency hotel stay vouchers for those needing shelter when temperatures are 32 degrees or below, or the temperature is 35 degrees or below and it is raining. Vouchers are limited.
During business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), please call The Caring Place at 512-943-0700 and follow the prompts for basic needs assistance and someone will return your call.
If you need assistance after-hours, and all other options have been exhausted, please call the Police Non-Emergency Line at 512-930-3510.
Additionally, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has opened a warming and charging center at 508 S. Rock Street in Georgetown for those without power.
Animal care
People need to bring their pets inside when temperatures and wind-chill dip below freezing, because pets are in danger from hypothermia and frostbite. Georgetown animal control officers have been responding to several reports of dogs being left outside for long periods of time.
When temperatures are above freezing again, dogs and cats can be left outside if you make sure to provide a dry, draft-free shelter that is a) small enough to hold body heat and b) large enough for the animals to lie down. The housing also should have supplemental bedding or auxiliary heat and protection from wind and rain.
Report pets in the Georgetown city limits who are not being properly sheltered to animal control at 512-930-3510, ext. 6. Outside the city limits, contact Williamson County Animal Control at 512-864-8332.
Weather Updates
- Sign up with WarnCentralTexas.org to receive emergency weather updates.
- Weather maps and current forecasts can be found on the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service.
Road Conditions
- Check road conditions at atxfloods.com/closures or drivetexas.org before traveling.
Local Outages
- Click here to check for outages in the Georgetown service area.
- For additional information on what you can do during an outage, visit the Red Cross Power Outage.
City Social Media
Follow us on social media for updates on this weather event and other important information.
Other
- Now is a good time to update the contact information on your utility account. Click here to find out how and make sure we are able to contact you in case of an emergency.
- Have a family emergency plan. Click here to start.
- The risk for hypothermia exists for those spending extended amounts of time outdoors. Make sure you have dressed appropriately in layers, hats, and gloves: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather#safe
- Protect people, pets, plants, & pipes: https://bit.ly/2Jx3SJ7