Many Austinites are seeing downed tree limbs, potholes and poorly functioning traffic signals. In order to report any of these things, call 311 or 512-974-2000 or submit a request through the 311 app. Austin Resource Recovery customers with small branches no longer than 5 feet and no thicker than 3 inches in diameter can set these items out in manageable stacks with their weekly composting collection. For larger items, customers should submit a storm service request using the following large brush set-out guidelines:

• Brush should be between 5 and 15 feet in length.
• Tree trunks more than 8 inches in diameter should be 3 feet long or less.
• Cut ends should face the street.
• Stack loosely along the curb in one row, not more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet.
• Do not block the sidewalk.
• Do not extend into the street.
• To prevent damage to your property, keep items 5 feet away from your trash cart, mailbox, fences or walls, water meter, telephone connection box and parked cars.
• Do not place any items under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
• Items will not be collected if they are in an alley in any area including Hyde Park, or if they are in front of a business or a vacant lot.

According to ARR, “The city has created a webpage to help Austinites with resources and information related to the impact of winter storm Uri. One link you will find leads to the Austin Disaster Relief page, which plans to assist with major cleanup efforts, including downed trees, etc.”

Over the weekend, Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued an order prohibiting car-washing services due to the water shortage. While many residents have had their water service restored, thousands are still under a boil-water notice. The order prohibits businesses “from providing vehicle washing services until Feb. 25 so as to allow for water supplies to replenish and water pressure to be restored throughout Travis County.” Those caught violating the order could be slapped with a fine of up to $1,000.

Editor’s Note: Andy Brown is on the board of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, which is the parent nonprofit of the Austin Monitor.

A team of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension experts called the Green Aggies are hosting an emergency webinar on Friday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m. designed “to address questions and concerns related to recovering turfgrass and plants in urban landscapes and gardens following the winter storm.” All those with urban landscape are encouraged to attend, as “The information could be helpful in forming a recovery/response plan for their home garden, turfgrass or landscape.” Said ornamental horticulturist and panelist Mengmeng Gu, “This winter storm is one of the coldest and longest we’ve experienced in Texas. This meeting will cover some topics on recognizing freezing plant injury and how to respond.” Also on the panel are a turf pathologist, a plant pathologist, an urban water specialist, a turfgrass specialist and more. Register here to attend via Zoom.

City Manager Spencer Cronk has scheduled a special called meeting of City Council this Thursday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. City staffers will provide a briefing on the “recent severe weather event and ongoing recovery and relief efforts” as well as an update on Covid-19 vaccine delivery. Other items to be discussed include an ordinance “waiving residential permitting and development fees related to repairing or reconstructing structures, and removing trees and tree limbs damaged as a result of winter weather events.” Find the full meeting agenda here. Visit the Council Meeting Information Center for instructions on public participation in Council meetings.

Austin ISD is holding a free meal service for children and their caregivers today from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m at 25 school campuses. Find the list of school pickup locations here. AISD’s regular curbside meal service resumes this Thursday, Feb. 25, with free meal packs for all kids under 19. (Kids do not have to be enrolled in AISD to receive meals.) Free meals for caregivers are also available for any adults accompanying the children. Adults may receive meal packs without kids present as long as they have documentation for the children (birth certificate, student ID card, report card or attendance record). Find out more details the school district’s meal program here.

After a pause in operations due to dangerous winter weather, Austin Resource Recovery will resume curbside collection today. The city asks that carts, bulk and large brush be set out on your scheduled pickup day, but notes that it might take a while to catch up. So if your trash is not collected, leave it at the curb as crews work over the next week. Because of the hold on collections last week, customers may have excess. In that case, Austin Resource Recovery asks that you do the following:

Recycling: Once your blue cart is full, place additional recyclables in a cardboard box or other reusable container next to your cart.

Composting: Once your green cart is full, use lawn and leaf bags or a reusable container that is no larger than 34 gallons and no heavier than 50 pounds for any excess material, and place them beside the cart.

Trash: Once your brown cart is full, place any extra bagged household trash from your missed collection beside your cart.

Starting today, the city’s Development Services Department will have a “dedicated team of permitting experts” on hand to help residents who are repairing damage caused by last week’s storms. In an effort to make the process as smooth as possible, the city has created a new web page that explains what work requires permits. A team of people equipped to answer specific repair questions can be reached at 512-974-1500, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Austin City Council members and the Travis County Democratic Party have put out a call for volunteers to join them in calling seniors and vulnerable community members this Friday and Saturday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. The nonpartisan phone bank will check in to make sure people have all the resources that they need. Those with a stable internet connection who are interested in lending a hand may sign up here.

County Judge Andy Brown has ordered an emergency meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court today at noon to discuss a number of emergency agenda items, including “the severe weather conditions and disruptions caused by the severe and freezing weather and its aftermath and recovery efforts.” The commissioners will also discuss extending the Declaration of Disaster and the Supplemental Disaster Declaration that was declared Feb. 16, and will be briefed by the county attorney on price gouging and other issues related to the storm. Community members may attend the meeting virtually here or here and may give comment on any agenda items by calling (888) 966-1236 at the beginning the meeting.

Editor’s Note: Andy Brown on the board of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, which is the parent nonprofit of the Austin Monitor.

All Austin Public Health Covid-19 testing and vaccination sites will remain closed Friday due to ongoing inclement weather. APH sites have been closed since Feb. 12. In a news release, the health authority said current appointments will be canceled, and APH will contact those needing to reschedule, though that will not be done until APH is confident it can safely restart operations.  In a Facebook Live on Thursday, Mayor Steve Adler struck a more optimistic tone, saying, “I think we will be gearing up this weekend. We will be getting out all of the vaccines that we have, we will be increasing the number of hours, we may be increasing the number of locations. Austin Public Health will be reaching out to people who are most vulnerable when there is a time to be able to sign up. People who have already gotten their first shot will get their second shot. Don’t worry about it, it has your name on it. It’s not going to someone else.” Vaccines are provided by appointment only, and APH asks that community members not show up without an appointment, “as that will interfere with the vaccine operations.”

As Austinites continue to suffer without power, water and shelter during ongoing cold temperatures, a number of organizations have stepped forward to serve the community. Austin Mutual Aid is raising money to provide shelter for the unhoused, the Austin Area Urban League is raising money for emergency support and Austin Disaster Relief Network is coordinating volunteers to help those impacted by the winter storms in war. In addition, there are a number of places that have compiled resource lists for those looking to donate or get assistance during this disaster. The city of Austin has created a web page gathering information on shelters, energy and water resources, transportation and other concerns. And the office of Council Member Greg Casar continues to update this document with cold-weather resources and information about what is going on.

With a number of simultaneous issues converging during this crisis, the city’s reporting systems have also been overtaxed, with the 311 phone line going down for the second time this week on Wednesday night. Service requests can be submitted to the 311 system online as well. Emergencies can also be reported directly to Austin Energy by calling (512) 322-9100 or through outagemap.austinenergy.com. Water emergencies such as broken pipes can be reported through the Austin Water report form or by calling (512) 972-1000.

The statewide, post-storms recovery has asked Texans with power and water to conserve those resources. Now, Texas Gas Service is asking the same. “The demand for natural gas continues to outpace supply, and it is going to take time for our suppliers to get their natural gas wells back online. That’s why it is so important for everyone to continue to minimize the amount of natural gas they are using,” reads a statement posted to the utility’s website.  “We are at a critical point that we need to keep that effort going and have our residential customers do the same. … The small actions you can take could result in big impacts as more and more people do them. Such as lowering your thermostats, turning down your hot water heater and sealing leaks around doors and windows.”