Austin area expecting thunderstorms; tips for customers to be prepared
February 28, 2021
On the heels of the largest winter storm to hit the area in decades, Austin may see severe thunderstorms the evening
of Sunday, Feb. 28 and into the early morning hours of Monday, March 1. Austin Energy is ready to respond in the
event of power outages and has crews on standby.
Power outages do occasionally happen. One out of three outages in our area are caused by vegetation and weather.
Windy and stormy weather can cause tree limbs to break and sway, rubbing against or hitting power lines. This can
cause service fluctuations and widespread outages. With so many trees in the area already weakened from the winter
storm a few weeks ago, it is possible that we may see outages due to fallen limbs.
Restoring power is more than just flipping a switch. You may see line workers, forestry crews and trucks in your
neighborhood, but employees throughout the utility are also working to safely restore power. Our first priority is to
keep our crews and customers safe so be aware that weather and other hazards may slow down the power restoration
process.
We encourage Austin Energy customers to be prepared for power outages by signing up for our text Outage Alerts and
checking our mobile-friendly outage map at outagemap.austinenergy.com. Customers can also report outages at 512-322-9100.
Other ways customers can be prepared and stay safe during a storm:
- Keep cellphones charged and backup chargers fully charged.
- If working or learning at home, save your work periodically and make sure your devices are on power strips. Using a power strip helps protect electronic devices in case of a power outage. Consider using external power sources for your electronics.
- Assemble a storm preparation kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, snacks, water, and other necessities. Make sure everyone in your home knows where to find it.
- If you experience a power outage, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed, if possible. Food will stay good up to four hours.
- Do not drive over or go near a downed power line, it could be energized. Call 512-322-9100 if you see a downed line to report it. If the line is sparking, call 911.
- If you see limbs on wires or see downed tree limbs, please call 512-322-9100 to report them.