Foul weather keeps city and county closed

With the winter storm warning still in effect and slippery streets making travel risky, Travis County and the city of Austin have decided to keep their offices and facilities closed and all non-essential staff at home today. Basically, everything that was closed yesterday remains closed again today. The county’s mobile Covid-19 vaccine clinics and Austin Public Health Covid testing and vaccine sites will remain closed Friday. Austin Resource Recovery has canceled service, saying carts will be emptied on the next scheduled collection day. Curbside customers are advised to bring their carts in “to avoid them sliding away.” The county urges residents to “stay home and avoid traveling on icy roads.” The community warming shelters remain open 24 hours a day and anyone who needs to go to one “should travel with extreme caution.” Besides offering a place to sleep and warm up, the shelters give those in need an opportunity to charge their electronic devices. Those who need assistance with transportation to a shelter should call 311 or (512) 974-2000 to make arrangements. Austin Water has some tips on coping with freezing temperatures. For regular emergency updates from the city and the county, visit this page.