Disaster Preparedness

Wildfire Symposium on Wed. August 5th

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Barton Hills Neighbors,

At the BHNA Meeting last Tuesday, we talked about the upcoming Wildfire Symposium next week on Wednesday, August 5th. The Austin Area Firewise Alliance and Mayor Watson are bringing together City, County, and State leaders for greater preparedness, responsiveness, and recovery from a major wildfire. The Symposium will underscore the essential role residents must play in protecting their homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

The message below was shared with Alliance members for forwarding to their neighborhood association networks. I am your BHNA representative to the Alliance, and we want you to have this information. We hope you’ll be able to participate either in person or by viewing the morning sessions on TV, radio, or streamed as described below. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions.

It should be an interesting day!

Thank you for your interest in wildfire preparedness.

Robin

Begin forwarded message:

From: Austin Area Firewise Alliance <firewisealliance@gmail.com>

Subject: Wildfire Symposium Update

Date: August 1, 2026 at 7:26:43?PM CDT

To: Robin McKeever <firewisealliance@gmail.com>

All Members,

The updated Wildfire Symposium agenda and event flyer are attached, reflecting a complex program packed with expertise. If it changes again, we’ll follow up again. Please share the flyer and registration link with your neighborhood and professional networks.

The registration link:  Luma.com: https://luma.com/kuxwkc79

Afternoon breakout Track Sessions have limited space. TRACK 1:  SIZEs is now closed, but TRACKS 2-4 currently still have spaces available.

The City Council Chamber has a capacity of 200, including standing room. Overflow monitoring will be available in the lobby with TV screens. 

The morning sessions may be viewed remotely through a live broadcast on ATXN (Austin Television Network), Channel 6 for local cable providers, online via ATXN Live, and one FM radio at KAZI 88.7 FM. Note: the afternoon TRACK sessions will not be streamed or recorded.  https://www.austintexas.gov/communications/watch-atxn-live

EVENT-DAY DETAILS

Parking:  Free parking will be available only in the underground garage; on-street parking will not be free. Access the underground garage from GUADALUPE Street on the west side of the building. Bring your parking chit to the lobby for validation. Keep your validated chit to scan at the exit for the arm to lift.

8:15am:  Guests are welcome for complimentary coffee & sweets in the lobby. NOTE:  No food or beverages are allowed in the Council Chamber. Water fountains are available in the lobby, and small-sip cups and water urn will be situated in the vestibule pass-through to the Council Chamber.

Front Door Security:  Standard screening of bags placed on a treadmill with an adjacent step-through frame.

Sign-In is REQUIRED:  Name tags will have Symposium ID, allowing internal security staff and volunteers to distinguish participants from other City Hall visitors and for ease of escorting through internal security barriers.

Information tables will be hosted by the Austin Fire Department with detailed wildfire preparedness handouts.

Complimentary box lunches will be available for afternoon TRACK participants.

Special Thanks to Alliance Volunteers! We appreciate Ed Richburg, Carol Philipson, Paul Hanusa, Karen Hagedorn, and Norma Walker stepping forth to support a successful Wildfire Symposium. They represent the Firewise Communities of River Place, Jester Estates, Long Canyon, and Canyon Creek. We couldn’t do it without you! 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Robin McKeever
Board Member and Communications
Austin Area Firewise Alliance
firewisealliance@gmail.com  

How to Handle Electrical Power Outages

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Wildfire may be the most serious but is not the only community-wide risk to the Barton Hills neighborhood.  Another risk, also increased by climate change, is electrical power outage.  As anyone who was in Texas during winter storm Uri in February 2021 remembers, a wide-spread outage can leave us shivering (or sweating) in our dark houses without heat, air conditioning, electronics, or water for days or weeks.  

An outage can happen in winter or summer, caused by a weather event, equipment failure, or system overload.  As the demand for electricity increases and the weather becomes more extreme, the risk goes up.  We can each take steps to prepare for a power outage whenever one occurs.

Austin Energy recommends the following preparations so we will be ready when the lights go out:

  1. Sign up to receive outage alerts and ensure that Austin Energy can contact you in case of an emergency.  Register for text or e-mail alerts by texting REG to 287846 and entering your zip code.  Make sure that the phone numbers and e-mail address associated with your account are current.  Call 512-494-9400 to update your account information.
  2. Know how to report an outage and view the outage map. To report an outage, text OUT to 287846,  To view the outage map if you have access to the internet, go to outagemap.austinenergy.com
  3. See if anyone in your household qualifies for the Medically Vulnerable Registry.  If the person has a medical condition that could become life threatening during power outage, the Medically Vulnerable Registry could help.  Although it will not guarantee uninterrupted power or priority restoration in an emergency, the Registry can assign a designated team member to work with you on a personalized backup plan. You can apply online or call 512-494-9400.
  4. Fill clean containers with water while you still have water service.  You may need it later for washing, flushing, and drinking.  Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed.  If you lose water service during a hard freeze, turn off the water at the valve next to your water meter, so that you do not have leaks caused by the surge in pressure when service is restored.
  5. Prior to an approaching storm that has a high risk of power outage, fill up your vehicle with fuel.  In addition to carrying you to safety if you need to evacuate, your car can be your “survival pod,” offering heat and air conditioning, as well as power outlets for recharging your electronic devices.  Remember not to run your car’s engine in a closed garage to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  6. Make an emergency kit including the following items:
    Essential documents: copies (not originals) of personal documents such as driver’s license and passport, your Austin Energy account number, homeowner’s insurance, and family and neighbor contact information; Prescription medicine, flashlights, extra batteries, backup chargers for electronic devices, first aid kit, emergency blankets, portable battery-operated radio, bottled water, canned or dried food, hand-operated can opener, personal hygiene items; and a little cash. Store the kit in a safe, dry place, and make sure that everyone in your household knows where it is.
  7. Take care of your pets.  Add pet food to your emergency kit.  If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you.
  8. Make an evacuation plan.  If the power is out for several days, you may need to spend some time away from home.  Consider who you would call and where you could go.  The City of Austin would certainly open one or more emergency shelters if the outage is wide-spread or long-lasting,  Determine where the nearest one is and how to get there.
  9. Regularly back up your computers to a separate device.  Unplug your computer during a storm to avoid damaging it.  Consider getting external poser sources for your electronic devices.  You can purchase auxiliary power supplies that use replaceable or rechargeable batteries or solar energy.  You can also purchase whole-house backup generators and battery power supplies, although they are expensive.
  10. Take precautions against accidents. While portable generators can help during an outage, operating them indoors is dangerous.  Stay away from downed power lines.  Cat litter or rock salt can prevent slippery sidewalks and decks.  Contact Austin Energy by calling 512-494-9400 before trying to trim trees away from power lines.
  11. Plan how to pass the time.  A power outage may last quiet a while, and you may be housebound.  A battery-operated radio can keep you entertained and up-to-date on the news.  Board and card games, books, and puzzles can also help you pass the time.

Craig Smith
ccraigsmith@icloud.com
BHNA Emergency Preparedness Committee
September, 2025