Plus, we're celebrating 100 years of Texas State Parks
6AM City In-house

The storm’s aftermath

How Austin is addressing the aftermath of last week’s historic ice storm
A group of crew members pointing at branches downed by the ice storm
Since Wednesday, Austin Energy crews have restored power to 325,000+ people. | Photo by @dustinsafranek
It’s been a week since a historic ice storm hit Austin, and the city is still picking up the pieces.

Since thousands woke up without power last Wednesday, Austin Energy mobilized 600+ crew members and restored power to 325,000+ residents. Utility leadership hopes to finish the job — mostly — by Sunday, Feb. 12.

As of Monday night, ~13,000 Austinites were still without power.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration over the weekend for Travis County and six others to help aid in repairing what Austin Energy general manager called “hurricane-level devastation.”

The city is currently working to understand why the storm impacted Austin so severely, as well as what can be done to avoid future catastrophes. In addition to a work session today, City Council plans to evaluate City Manager Spencer Cronk’s employment on Thursday, Feb. 9.

A close-up image of ice on a tree.

Last week’s ice storm weighed down tree branches, causing breakages that toppled power lines.

Photo by ATXtoday


Meanwhile, Austin Energy is gearing up for more inclement weather this week that could hamper restoration efforts. Thunderstorms slated for today and tomorrow could result in additional outages, or at least slow attempts to get people back online.

For now, here’s what you can do.
  • Dispose of your debris. Place your downed branches on the curb for collection and call 311 to request Austin Resource Recovery pickup — item limits are currently waived. If you need physical or financial assistance doing this, make a request with the Austin Disaster Relief network. Here are some safety tips.
  • If you are without power, make use of emergency shelters, local food distribution centers, or Austin Energy charging stations,
  • Donate or volunteer with the Central Texas Food Bank, which is working to provide food for people affected by outages.
  • Report damage — with photos and specific language — to the state emergency management division. You may qualify for federal disaster assistance.

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Feb. 7
  • Central Texas African-American Family Support Conference | Tuesday, Feb. 7-Wednesday, Feb. 8 | Times vary | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free-$25 | Learn from panels on topics related to parenting, overcoming adversity, mental health, and community.
  • Lou Ann Barton & Moeller Brothers | Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 8 p.m. | Antone’s Nightclub, 305 E. 5th St., Austin | $10-$15 | Sarah Barlow will also perform at this Austin-based blues show.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
  • G League Ignite vs. Austin Spurs | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park | $10 | Austin’s G League team faces down the Nevada-based Ignite.
  • Mom Rock | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 8:30 p.m. | The Ballroom at Spider House, 2906 Fruth St., Austin | $12 | The headliners will be joined by Vision Arcade and Golden Days.
Thursday, Feb. 9
Friday, Feb. 10
  • Shakey Graves Day | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7 p.m. | Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St., Austin | $25-$30 | Honor Austin musician Shakey Graves on this official city holiday.
  • Dance Theatre of Harlem | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $25 | This internationally touring dance group incorporates modern and classic choreography.
Saturday, Feb. 18
  • Precision Camera’s Garage Sale | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Precision Camera & Video North Austin, 2438 W. Anderson Ln., Austin | Free | Shop demo cameras and lenses, discontinued products, used items + more at Precision Camera’s Garage Sale.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 72º | Thunderstorms | 82% chance of rain
  • Here’s some good news: we’re almost done with freezes. On average, Austin sees its last freeze in mid-February, although the city has weathered a freeze as late as April. (KXAN)
Biz
  • Round Rock-based Dell Technologies announced plans to lay off 5% of its global workforce due to decreased computer sales. The company employs ~13,000 people in Central Texas. (Austin Business Journal)
Development
  • A 43-acre development along the upcoming Orange Line train route in South Austin could now include 346,000 sqft of office and retail space. The project at 7900 S. Congress Ave. was approved for rezoning last month. 🏗 (Austin Business Journal)
  • The owner of the former East Austin Holloway industrial site at 500 Pedernales St. is requesting a zoning change for the property. If approved, the site could become a 200-unit residential development. (Austin Towers)
Community
  • South Congress’ The Great Outdoors has a shiny new coat of paint. The garden center is almost done with renovations that include updated murals and a new cashier pergola. 🪴 (Commuity Impact Austin)
Number
  • 49,420. That’s how many millionaires lived in Texas in 2020, according to new IRS data. If it sounds like a lot, it is: that number marks a 30% increase from 2015. 💰 (Austin Business Journal)
Edu
  • UT researchers may have discovered a new layer of the Earth. The layer of the asthenosphere lies ~100 ft below the Earth’s surface and is made up of gooey molten rock. (KXAN)
Austinite
  • Willie Nelson won two Grammy Awards Sunday night, bringing his lifetime total to 12. The Austin artist took home trophies for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album. 🏆
State
  • Texas’ State Fair was the most-visited fair in the country last year, according to a new ranking by Carnival Warehouse. More than 2.5 million people attended the Dallas event in 2022. 🎡
Shop
  • What’s getting us through February: Our humidifiers. We love the Levoit Blue Cool Humidifier for its quiet design, multiple mist levels, and how easy it is to clean. Do your skin (not to mention, your houseplants) a favor and up your home hydration.*

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A century of Texas State Parks

How we’re celebrating 100 years of Texas State Parks
A pool of water at McKinney Falls State Park.
McKinney Falls is the only state park in Travis County. | Photo by ATXtoday
This year marks 100 years of Texas state parks, and we want to celebrate.

Our state is full of natural beauty, and in our entirely unbiased opinion, Central Texas may be the most beautiful region of all.

As nature lovers, we want to commemorate the centennial of the agency that maintains these natural resources for our enjoyment. That’s why, over the course of 2023, we’ll be visiting and writing about all eight state parks in Travis and surrounding counties.

That includes:
Want to join us on our journey? Share your state park experiences with us at hello@theatxtoday.com or by tagging us on Instagram @atxtoday.
LEARN THE HISTORY
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by London.

Editor’s pick: Nice work on last month’s news quiz, y’all. Almost 90% of you got this question right:

Q: After almost 40 years, which pop star is making her return to Austin with a September concert at the Moody Center?
A: Madonna 🎶

Other questions weren’t so easy. Just 32% of you answered this one correctly:

Q: Which Austin sports team is the subject of a new eight-part TV series on Prime Video?
A: Austin Gamblers 🐂

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? You just might fall in love with these local Valentine’s Day menus.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Figi, London Gibson, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

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