Austin Power Outage Alerts: Stay Informed and Keep Your Family Safe

It’s easy to feel stressed and unprepared in the middle of a power outage. The sudden loss of electricity can disrupt daily life, putting everyone on edge. However, you can have peace of mind by preparing ahead of time with the right knowledge and supplies. By taking these simple steps now, you can minimize the impact of outages, stay informed, and keep your home and family safe. 

Keep reading to learn how to stay updated on outages, how to prepare for them, how to stay safe during them, and expert tips for minimizing an outage’s impact in the future. 

How Do I Stay Updated on Austin Power Outage Alerts?

1. Text Alerts. For real-time updates, sign up for Austin Energy’s outage alerts via text. Check out their website for instructions on how to enroll. 
2. Review Outage Map. Visit the Austin Energy Outage Map to see affected areas and their estimated restoration time. It’s good to keep up with where blackouts occur so you know what stores and gas stations may still be open.
3. Follow Austin’s Emergency Alerts website. Monitor the Austin-Travis County Emergency Management website for official outage and weather-related updates. You can also follow them on social media for breaking news updates and emergency information. 

How To Prepare for Power Outages in Austin

Stay Informed

Sign up for alerts from Austin Energy and local emergency services. These sources will be the first to report power outages, rolling blackouts, and when restoration may happen.   Identify nearby cooling and warming centers and record their contact information. 

Austin Energy alerts don’t provide warnings for unplanned outages, like those due to severe weather. Download a weather app alert system to notify you when severe weather is coming. Ice storms, heavy rain showers, and high winds can cause power outages. Still, these storms usually have an advance warning, giving you plenty of time to get your home in order. 

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Keep your home stocked with power outage essentials, especially during severe weather seasons. Build your kit over time to avoid rushing to the store and risking it being sold out. Here’s a list of a few items to have handy:

• Flashlight, lantern, and extra batteries
• Non-perishable food and bottled water
• Cash
• First aid supplies and medications
• A unique game or activity to pull out 
• Portable phone charge or power bank like any of the EcoFlow Portable Power Stations 

Have Backup Power Options

With a whole-home power backup system, you can forgo the worry of a power outage. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) is the perfect option to keep your home running while the power is out. It provides 4kWh of battery capacity, with the option for up to 12kWh when adding additional batteries. Thanks to its robust solar panel, the solar generator stays charged and ready to go. 

Prepare Your Home

In the winter, be proactive by insulating your pipes to protect them from increasingly common ice storms. It’s essential to have the materials needed to cover spouts outside. This will prevent pipes from freezing over. If your freezer size permits, freeze extra water bottles and freezer packs to keep food cold while waiting for power restoration. 

How To Stay Safe During an Austin Power Outage

Use Safe Light Sources

Open flames, such as candles, can cause fire hazards. If you plan to use them, keep them in sturdy holders and away from flammable materials. Candles can be fun to light up a room, but it’s far safer to have a flashlight and lantern on hand.  

Handle and Store Food Properly

Avoid opening and closing your fridge and freezer while the power is out. They’re built with insulating materials, enabling them to hold their temperature for hours without power. A full freezer can last up to 48 hours. 

Check On Your Neighbors

Reach out to elderly neighbors, families with young children, and those with medical conditions. While you have taken steps to prepare your home, others may not have been able to. You can help them access emergency and community resources if needed. 

Watch For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If you don’t already have one, invest in a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector. Never use a gas generator, charcoal grill, or camp stove inside enclosed spaces. You won’t be able to smell the carbon monoxide but familiarize yourself with the basic symptoms of poisoning if you plan to use any gas-powered heater. 

Stay Informed and Communicate 

Have a backup plan for staying updated from Austin Energy or a nearby radio station. Hand-crank or battery-powered radios are a great option. During a power outage, cell networks become overwhelmed as people try to use them. Try to communicate through social media. 

7 Tips for Minimizing the Impact of Future Outages

1. Invest in Backup Power Solutions. The best way to avoid being impacted by a power outage is to integrate a backup power system like an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series Solar Generator (PV220W) into your home. With 3.6kWh of battery capacity and 3.6kW of AC output available, appliances in your house won’t stop running with this emergency power supply. This solar generator will power your freezer, fridge, TV, computer, coffee maker, and more. Add additional battery for a max capacity of 7.2 kWh. 
2. Create a Long-Term Emergency Kit. Have an emergency kit on hand, ready to go. This includes water, food, batteries, flashlights, and first aid. Build an emergency kit that will last a week or longer as time passes. FEMA recommends to store one gallon of water per person per day. 
3. Keep Vehicles and Fuel Supplies Ready. If you’re keeping track of the weather and severe weather is coming through, take your cars to the gas station to fill them up. Store extra propane or kerosene in power heaters and cooking supplies in case of an unexpected power outage. 
4. Update Insulation. Maintaining your home’s insulation will help retain heat in the winter and keep it cool in the summer, making power outages more bearable by shielding you from outdoor temperatures. Install weather striping on doors and windows to further reduce energy loss. Keep blankets on hand in the winter to fully cover windows and doors. 
5. Establish a Community Network. Don’t wait until a disaster to get to know your neighbors. Take a moment to introduce yourself to them. Not only is it the neighborly thing to do, but it may also help you determine which neighbors need to be checked on or could be asked for assistance. 
6. Take a Class. Check out a local preparedness class in Austin and take a basic first aid class. These skills may come into play if emergency services are unavailable. 
7. Plan Fun Meals In Advance. Don’t wait until the power is out to plan what meals to cook. Collect recipes that are easy but fun to make. This will also help. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Power outages are inevitable, but you can take steps to prepare your home and keep your family safe when they happen. Start by signing up for alerts to stay informed when power outages occur. Then, prepare your home with an emergency kit, including food, water, flashlights, and first aid. 

Take steps to minimize the impact of power outages by integrating a whole-home backup power system with EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators. This will keep essential appliances on and cell phones charged at a moment’s notice.