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Pearl Lantana Apartments is one of many apartment complexes around town without running water due to plumbing issues. (Laura Figi/Austonia)
The last night Stephanie Landgraf, 25, spent in her apartment, off of Rundberg Lane, was on Valentine's Day. First, her power went off, only to return shortly after the complex lost water. Since then, she's been staying with friends. "There's no end in sight," she told Austonia. "At this point, I'm just angry."
<p>Although Austin Water announced it had restored service system-wide on Tuesday and reporting on the crisis has faded, some residents remain impacted due to burst and broken pipes that still need repairing. Landgraf's apartment complex provided an update earlier this week, attributing the outage to a shortage of specific plumbing parts and saying that service would be restored within 24 hours. That was three days ago. </p><p>Landgraf spent Friday, her day off, trying to get a hold of Austin Water. If her service isn't restored by Sunday, she'll get a hotel room—an expense that isn't covered by her renters' insurance. Still, she counts herself lucky to have an alternative place to stay. If she was still in her apartment, she would need to find a way to get water up to her unit. "My area of town is not okay," she said, adding that her neighbors were already spread thin by the pandemic. "We're still struggling." </p><p><strong>Ongoing repairs</strong> </p><p>After nearly a week of widespread outages and a boil water notice, Austin Water announced it had restored service and lifted its notice citywide on Tuesday. But hundreds of apartment complexes and other properties still lack water because of unresolved pipe breaks. Although these complexes may be able to restore water service, they cannot do so without risking flooding or other damage. </p><p>"I would anticipate right now there's at least two to four hundred apartment complexes, condos, areas served by interior piping systems … that are out of water in one form or another," Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros told City Council Thursday. "That's changing rapidly, but that's a very large number. And that doesn't count single-family homes or others that are struggling with those kinds of things." </p><p>The utility, along with the city of Austin, is working to deliver water to impacted residents, conduct wellness checks and facilitate repairs on private properties now that the public system is stable. But some residents are still without a basic necessity.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I haven't had running water in my apartment in over a week. This is an absolute disaster, <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinWater?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustinWater</a> . Pick up your phone. I have some things to say. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SnowStorm2021?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SnowStorm2021</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TexasPowerOutage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TexasPowerOutage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TexasBlackout?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TexasBlackout</a> <a href="https://t.co/W8ZU0n573N">pic.twitter.com/W8ZU0n573N</a><br/>— masky gal (@SistasgonResist) <a href="https://twitter.com/SistasgonResist/status/1365359522836013056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>"In many, many instances, families including children are living in unsanitary conditions with water shut off," Miguel Barbosa said during the public portion of Thursday's council meeting. "People need toilets. Families need showers. This is risky, and quite frankly it is life-threatening."<br/></p><p>Property owners and management companies, on the other hand, are competing for repair services and other amenities. </p><p>Pinnacle, which manages the Arboretum Oaks property in Great Hills, sent an update to residents on Wednesday saying that 10 additional plumbers are expected to arrive this weekend to help with ongoing plumbing repairs. The property has been without water for days now. The company was also in the process of securing portable showers and toilets from vendors that are pulling inventory from other states due to high demand. Until they arrive, residents can schedule a time to use a shower in one of five vacant units at the Argosy at Crestview, a sister property 15 minutes away by car. </p><p><strong>What residents can do</strong> </p><p>Residents without water should call 311 to report the outage. This will help with coordinating water deliveries and other support services, Juan Ortiz, the city's director of homeland security and emergency management, said Thursday.</p><p>Water distribution sites operated by the city and Travis County are being consolidated due to declining demand. One such site, at the Onion Creek Soccer Complex at 5600 E. William Cannon Drive, is open on Friday. The latest information on such sites can be found <a href="http://austintexas.gov/weatherinfo#winterwaterdistro" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>Austin Water has not forgotten those who are still dealing with pipe damage and waiting for their water service to be restored. "We're going to stay on this and help these apartment complexes and others get water back to their systems," Meszaros said. But, he added, it will likely be "many days" before their crisis is over.</p>
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Mexican free-tail bats in the Austin skyline
The long-term damage caused by Winter Storm Uri is becoming more and more evident, and Austin's bat population is no exception.
<p>The bats, which serve as both a tourist attraction and token of pride for many Austinites, have been found dead or dying en masse under bridges and overpasses throughout the city.</p><p>Austin Animal Center officials said they have heard reports of 60-100 dead bats since the storm kept temperatures subfreezing for days. </p><p>To help combat the issue, conservation groups including Austin Bat Refuge are rehabilitating the animals using insulin syringes and feeding supplies to keep bats alive.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Days after warm wether returned, the fallout we dreaded has come full force. We're doing our best, as are rehabbers all over Texas. If you're local, we could use more 1 ml insulin syringes (29-31 ga) and 1 ml syringes no needles. <a href="https://t.co/gR5dYNm8Fl">pic.twitter.com/gR5dYNm8Fl</a><br/>— Austin Bat Refuge (@AustinBatRefuge) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinBatRefuge/status/1364681853702184964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>Officials are quickly realizing that mass bat deaths are happening statewide. On Wednesday, Texas Parks and Wildlife posted pictures of what looked to be hundreds of dead bats on Facebook. The department asked for the public's help in reporting bat deaths by checking under bridges, reporting how many bats can be found and putting data into the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/winter-storm-uri-wildlife-deaths?fbclid=IwAR2w3A4nE-4yAu7r9ZXx02ptw1dhQ1Y5rwodx_2vxqlkL_LRbkBxFgz78c0" target="_blank">iNaturalist </a>project. Over 2,000 wildlife deaths have been reported as a result of Winter Storm Uri in the project.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="38c43a5f57eb7f0c8aba809be408d70c"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/TXWildlife/posts/5001991369871427"></div></div><p>The mass deaths are distressing to wildlife experts because bats are vital to Texas agriculture, acting as a "natural pest control" by controlling insect populations. As a result, if bats were to go extinct in the area, food prices would rise.</p><p>Austin, with its 1.5 million Congress Avenue Bridge bats, has even more ties to the animals. While the bats offer a uniquely Austin experience that attracts tourists and locals alike, they also eat up to 30,000 bugs a night, giving the city a more insect-free experience as well. The mosquito-repelling animals that reside in the city are also North America's largest urban bat population.</p><p>Austin Animal Center warned residents not to touch bats when making reports. If a dead or dying bat is found, the department said to call Austin 311 so the animals can get the care they need. Austin Bat Rescue is also asking for donations of 1 ml insulin syringes to help save more bats.</p>
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(Wally Gobetz)
The city has reopened the Barton Springs Pool after shutting it down during the winter storm.
Austinites can shake off their winter boots and take a dip at two reopened city pools, the city of Austin announced.
<p>The Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy pool were shut down due to the winter storm, but both reopened as of today.</p><p>Barton Springs Pool went back into business Thursday morning and will have the following schedule through Sunday:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>5 a.m.-8 a.m. <em>Swim at Your Own Risk</em></li><li><em></em>8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. <em>Guarded Swim</em></li><li><em></em>6-10 p.m. <em>Swim at Your Own Risk</em></li></ul><p>After Sunday, the pool will go under regularly scheduled maintenance and close from Monday, March 1 to Friday, March 12. Reopening updates will be given on the pool's website.</p><p>Deep Eddy Pool will open for lap swim Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and resume regular operations except for on Friday, Feb. 27, Tuesday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 9, when it will be closed. The pool will have expanded hours as Barton Springs goes under maintenance.</p><p>Both pools will have free admission until further notice.</p><p>The city has not reopened Big Stacy, Bartholomew and Springwood pools due to structural and plumbing damage caused by the winter storm.</p>
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(Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock)
In early February, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk told fellow Texas transplant Joe Rogan that Austin was the "biggest boomtown that America has seen in half a century."
Days later, thousands across the city had no access to running water or power as Winter Storm Uri devastated the region.
<p>The jury's still out on whether or not the record-breaking storm will impact the city's recent "Texodus," where thousands of Californians and tech companies began setting their sights on Austin. </p><p>Regardless, Austin felt like anything but the nation's most up-and-coming city as residents were forced to endure the cold in their powerless homes and search for drinkable water.</p><p>Austin and all of Texas could face a push-and-pull situation as the state decides whether or not to keep some of the policies that may have led to the tech boom in the first place. On one hand, lax taxes, low utility costs and more bang-for-your-buck real estate brought in Californians looking for a cheaper cost of living; on the other, Texans learned the hard way that "you get what you pay for" as city infrastructures failed and the power grid shut down, paradoxically, in the nation's most energy-rich state. </p><p>Austinite and Tech Crunch Senior Writer Mary Ann Azevedo said that while she isn't sure where the funding will come from, she hopes to see leaders turn toward the future and invest in city and state infrastructures.</p><p>"One would hope but if the past is any indication, we are unlikely to see many changes," Azevedo said. "However, if enough noise is made and change is demanded, then perhaps we will see some changes in terms of investing in updating current infrastructure. Where those funds will come from remains to be seen as it's highly unlikely we'll get state income taxes."</p><p>On Friday, Azevedo saw for herself the devastating effects of the storm on an unprepared city. While in the process of rationing bottled water and hoping for her faucets to once again turn on, Azevedo wrote an <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/19/will-the-texas-winter-disaster-deter-further-tech-migration/" target="_blank">article for Tech Crunch</a> pondering the question: could this storm set back Austin's recent tech migration?</p><p>Azevedo asked the public in a <a href="https://twitter.com/bayareawriter/status/1362548529525358593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1362548529525358593%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Faustonia.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2650727978publish" target="_blank">tweet</a> to which she received mixed responses.</p><p>Some agreed that the storm was a historic event that Texas could have never properly prepared for. Because of the community's resilience and teamwork, some saw the event as a story of coming together more than the failure of the city or state.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What I saw here in Austin was community coming together<br/><br/>Neighbors helping each other. Taking in friends and strangers. Local restaurants stepping up, even after a year of a pandemic crisis.<br/><br/>I've lived here my entire life, it's the community that makes it great, always will<br/>— Mark Magnuson (@MarkMagnuson) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkMagnuson/status/1362765552171814917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>Others saw it as a moment of reflection for city and state infrastructure as the economy looks to make up for lost time.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I hope businesses put pressure on politicians to ensure that the infrastructure of TX is sound. The lost productivity over the last several days and potentially into the future is huge, not to mention the lost of life and trauma. (Oh & our offices flooded due to a main break.)<br/>— Kate Moon🇺🇸 (@Katemooooon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Katemooooon/status/1362563173010657283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>A few outsiders looking in agreed that they would or had avoided Austin because of its location in Texas in the first place.<br/></p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I'm not a founder, but I chose to move from SF to Portland, OR rather than Austin precisely BECAUSE Austin (the great city that it is) is located in the state of Texas. 🤷🏽♀️<br/>— Debra J. Farber (@privacyguru) <a href="https://twitter.com/privacyguru/status/1362551399834263553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p>Winter Storm Uri may have brought communities together, but it also brought questionable Texas leadership national attention, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's decision to <a href="https://austonia.com/ted-cruz-cancun" target="_blank">travel to Mexico</a> during the crisis. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also faced the spotlight after it was revealed that he <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/22/ken-paxton-utah/" target="_blank">traveled to Utah</a> in the midst of the storm.</p><p>Some said the state's power failure could look costly for companies who may choose to be under different leadership after the storm.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Startups & Tech don't want to have to build out their own utilities in addition to the rest of their infrastructure. Until Texas solves this energy incompetence they will take a pass.<br/>— Clayton Slaughter (@schmubba) <a href="https://twitter.com/schmubba/status/1362745156794019848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>Of all who answered, Azevedo said she found most thought the winter storm would make no difference on the "Texodus," but she's not so sure that's rooted in logic.<br/></p><p>"Mixed reactions, but the majority of people here in Austin and Texas seem to think it will have little to no impact," Azevedo said. "And as many people pointed out, each region has natural disasters that impact them in one way or another. But I think it's a bit unrealistic to think this won't be a turnoff for some."</p><p>To Azevedo, the disaster may not take away all of Austin's current allure, but it's likely that some will see the city in a new light after Winter Storm Uri.</p><p>"It's tough to say but I do think it does make Austin a little less appealing," Azevedo said. "Here we are supposed to be the next 'boomtown,' yet last week so many of us were either out of power or water, or both—largely due to aging infrastructure on poor decision-making on the part of our leaders. It's not the best look."</p><p>Although the power and water failure may not be the greatest advertisement for prospective tech companies, some such as Tesla, Oracle and Samsung have already taken root in Austin. Azevedo said that these companies are undoubtedly unhappy with the situation but likely won't be leaving anytime soon.</p><p>"They chose to base their headquarters, build factories or large campuses here for reasons and they will likely stand by those decisions still," Azevedo said. "However, if any of those decision-makers had to endure what many of us did last week, I can imagine it was disappointing and a bit of a reality check."</p><p>The hard freeze is over, but Winter Storm Uri's rippling effects will likely be seen for weeks or months. It's hard to say whether that will make Austin, Texas a "boomtown" no more.</p>
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