From: City of Austin Development Services <dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov>
Date: 2021-02-11 21.53.54
Subject: Friday inspections delayed until 10 a.m. due to weather.eml Good evening,Because precipitation and freezing temperatures are expected to continue through the night and early morning, the City of Austin Development Services Department (DSD) will postpone inspections until 10 a.m. on Friday, February 12.The safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority. If dangerous conditions continue beyond the scheduled start time, we will provide updates on our website and social media channels.Because most of our employees are teleworking, other DSD operations are not affected at this time. Monday, February 15, is a City holiday, and no inspections are currently planned for that day. If inclement weather continues beyond Monday, we will update you on any other operational impacts.Thank you again for your understanding and support of safe operations.City of Austin Development Services Department

Date: 2021-02-11 11.31.09
Subject: Marina WeatherGood Afternoon All, Currently we have icy conditions so I do not recommend coming out to the marina if you don’t have to.  Ice is forming on walkways, docks, ramps, etc. Looking at the weather.com looks like things may be a bit different tomorrow.  Please be extra careful walking around the marina.Just an update…restaurant is closed until late next week when weather conditions change, Madison Marine will have partial closure and limited staff throughout the entirety of this weather, water will be turned off throughout the marina and will only be turned on for a short period daily if temperatures rise above freezing, dry stack is closing tomorrow afternoon to keep the internal temperature up and will reopen when temperatures return to above freezing.  We will have someone on staff daily if driving conditions permit.Be safe everyone and stay warm!Thanks again for your business.Kelly and Team!

Från en bil som var vid olyckan i Ft Worth i går:

Date: 2021-02-14 17.08.06
Subject: Emerald Point Marina Member Update Good Afternoon Members, We hope everyone is staying safe during this winter storm.We will remain closed until the weather passes and encourage everyone to stay home unless absolutely necessary to get to their boat. The docks are very slick, so if you do elect to check on your boat please use extreme caution.The Marina has not had any power issues. If this were to occur we will alert all members with a another update.The water was turned off on Friday and will remain off until the storm passes. Current weather predications show that it could be this coming Friday before the temperature allows for the water to be turned back on.For those of you who have boats in Dry Stack:The Dry Stack was closed at 3pm on Friday and will remain closed until the temperatures are holding above freezing. The heaters have been able to keep up with the cold thus far, keeping the temperature above freezing. We do have a contingency plan in place if a loss of power were to occur.If you have any questions, please call the office, or email Kelly and Myself.Thank you,Matt

From: City of Austin Utilities Customer Care <customercare@coautilities.com>
Date: 2021-02-14 18.53.24
Subject: Texans Need Your Help to Conserve Electricity  Conserving Electricity During Extreme Winter Weather  Due to record-breaking, state-wide electric demand and reduced power generation caused by the extreme winter weather, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the grid operator for most of the State of Texas, is asking all Texans to reduce their electric use as much as possible from Sunday, Feb. 14 through Tuesday, Feb. 16.There are many simple, safe steps to lower your energy use during this time, some of which are shared below.

• Adjust your thermostat: Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees is a good target for energy savings for the winter. Adjusting your thermostat 1-2 degrees cooler helps reduce energy usage during the most critical times.
• Close shades, curtains, and/or blinds: Up to a third of a typical home’s heat loss can occur through windows and doors. Keeping curtains and blinds closed during the winter helps reduce up to 10 percent in heat loss from a warm room.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances: Only turn on lights and appliances that you are actively using. Many appliances continue to consume energy even while they are off so that they can be quickly turned on. Make sure these appliances are fully powered down if you don’t need them.
• Adjust appliances to energy saving mode when in use: Make sure your TV’s standard or normal picture setting is selected and that energy-saving features like automatic brightness control are enabled. Enable “auto power down” on your gaming console to ensure the device goes into low-power mode when not in use. Also, avoid accessing streaming video through your game console, which can use 10 times more energy to stream a movie than, say, a Roku box or the app on your smart TV.
• Avoid using large appliances: If possible, avoid using large appliances like your washing machine, dryer, oven, or corded power tools.
• Close pet doors: Pet doors usually have minimal or no insulation. Pets should be brought in, and pet doors should be closed.
• Optimize refrigeration use: Try to keep refrigerator and freezer full and the doors shut as much as possible to reduce their energy usage.
• Minimize water heater energy use: Lowering the temperature on your water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can potentially save you up to $400 a year — and you won’t notice a difference.
• Businesses should minimize electric use: Businesses can help by minimizing the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment. Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

---

If you experience a power outage:

• Lowering your thermostat.
• Turning off or unplugging any fixtures or appliances.
• Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on.

• Keep family, friends, and neighbors informed of your circumstances.
• Do not use gas stoves and ovens to heat your home.
• Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.
• Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.

From: City of Austin <Austin-waste@remember.recollect.net>
Date: 2021-02-15 08.18.31
Subject: Service Alert – Important Message

Service Alert

Important message from City of Austin: Due to the current severe winter weather, our services continue to be suspended, possibly into the middle of this week, and will resume as weather permits. Affected curbside services include recycling, composting, trash, yard trimmings, bulk item, large brush, street sweeping, downtown litter abatement and dead animal collections. If you can, set your carts or other material out as usual, but be aware that service has been delayed. Leave any uncollected carts, and other material at the curb to allow our crews to catch up. Weather permitting, we will catch up over the week and into next weekend. Stay tuned for any service updates. We apologize for the delays. Thank you for your patience!

From: Austin Energy <outagealerts@austinenergy.com>
Date: 2021-02-15 16.41.20
Subject: URGENT- Conserve Power Now

Due to the severity of weather and the condition of the state-wide electric grid, Austin area outages are lasting longer than expected. These outages may extend through Tuesday afternoon. The need for conservation is URGENT. If you have power, please use as little as possible to assist us in getting the electricity back on for others. You can help by: Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Keeping your doors and windows closed to minimize warm air escaping your home. Unplug all nonessential electronics. ​​​​​Avoid using large appliances like dryers. If you are currently without power, you can help us avoid overloaded circuits and additional outages when power comes back on by: Turning off your thermostats. Turning off light fixtures and unplugging any appliances Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on. For businesses, ERCOT advises minimizing the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible. Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes. Thank you for your help during this emergency situation. You can find more information on grid conditions at ercot.com. Additional conservation tips: austinenergy.com/go/winter ercot.com/about/conservation ​​​​​powertosavetexas.org/Home/QuickSavingsHome powertosavetexas.org/Home/QuickSavingsBusiness

From: City of Austin Development Services <dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov>
Date: 2021-02-15 19.06.20
Subject: City operations closed Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17

From: Spectrum <myaccount@spectrumemails.com>
Date: 2021-02-15 20.00.32
Subject: Spectrum Alert- Winter Storm Shirley Outage

Spectrum Alert: Winter Storm Shirley Outage

Dear Spectrum Customer,

Winter Storm Shirley has caused a Spectrum service outage in your area. Our crews will begin restoration as soon as conditions safely allow. If you have also lost power, please contact your local power provider. Local power is necessary before we can restore or troubleshoot service. To help you stay connected, Spectrum TV customers can enjoy many programming options by downloading our Spectrum TV App. Spectrum Internet customers can access WiFi hotspots nationwide. Find one near you. Get service updates, outage information and other helpful resources at Spectrum.net/stormcenter. Sincerely,

Spectrum Customer Support Team

From: Apple News <newsdigest@insideapple.apple.com>
Date: 2021-02-16 08.49.52 1231400
Subject: Unprecedented winter storm hits U.S., a strange discovery under Antarctic ice, and more from Apple News

…

From: Blackmon, Paula [mailto:paula.blackmon@dallascityhall.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2021 10:14 AM
Cc: District 9 <District9@dallascityhall.com>
Subject: Severe Weather UpdateNeighbors, I hope this message finds you safe and warm. I am very aware of the power outages throughout the City – especially in East Dallas. I have been without power and so has a member of the District 9 staff. I am worried for our residents and am working to help as many as possible. I have been in frequent communication with Oncor and am working with community groups across the District to identify warming centers and additional needs such as food and supplies.  This weather event is unprecedented, and we are here to help how we can.ERCOT is under the State of Texas’ control – but the City of Dallas is working on standing up warming centers and 24/7 sanding on roads to provide relief to residents.Attached are tips for staying warm in instances with no or limited heat. If you do have power, please conserve it by:

• Turning down your thermostat to 68 degrees
• Closing shades and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows
• Turning off and unplugging non-essential lights and appliances
• Avoid using large appliances (ovens, washing machines, etc.)
• Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity consuming equipment as much as possible
• Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

Below is the most up to date information we have received from Oncor:

ONCOR: EMERGENCY UPDATE

Due to ongoing record-low temperatures and generation, ERCOT has continued to direct Oncor and utilities across the state to drop power load through maintained controlled outages. These controlled outages are occurring across the state and the entire Oncor service territory. Oncor was able to rotate some outages overnight, but poor grid conditions have continued to prevent us and other utilities from rotating, or rolling, the entirety of these outages, leading to extended periods without power for many of our customers.

At this time, ERCOT is unable to predict when grid conditions will stabilize, and urge all customers to be prepared for extended outages to continue. We also urge customers to prioritize the safety of themselves, their loved ones and their neighbors. Tips to stay warm during power outages include: closing blinds and curtains and closing room doors to help contain heat, and stuffing towels in the cracks under doors can help keep the warmth in. Many local counties have also opened warming stations or shelters, which can be located online or by calling 211.

We recognize the hardships and extreme frustration customers without power face during these historical low temperatures and are ready to deliver power as soon as electric generators are able to provide it. As soon as enough generation is available, we will return to a regular cadence of rotating outages with the goal of providing any temporary relief that we can for those who have been without power the longest.

Additionally, our crews continue to restore equipment damaged by the significant winter storm so those homes and businesses can receive power as soon as possible. We have relocated crews, including mutual assistance contractors from out of state, from areas with limited damage to areas with more damage to make repairs as quickly and safely as possible. We are closely watching the coming winter storm that is forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday to ensure that we have the needed resources to address any damage from the storm.

FAQ’s

Q: Why is my power out?

There are two major issues affecting many of customers right now: winter storm outages and controlled power outages directed by ERCOT, which serve to reduce high demand and protect the integrity of the electric grid. Due to the fast moving nature of these two power emergency events, we are not currently able to break down the difference in outages on our Oncor Outage Map.

Q: When will my power be restored?

Given the unique combination of lack of generation and historic winter storm damage, estimated restoration times are not yet known. For outages related to the winter storm, our crews continue working around the clock to restore power. However, continued winter impacts such as extreme cold, treacherous road conditions and ice buildup is impacting progress.

Controlled outages related to grid supply and demand have been significantly extended due to the current emergency grid conditions and severe cold weather. In order to preserve the reliability of the grid, ERCOT has said that additional generation will be needed before power can be restored.

These outages are taking place across the service territory and ERCOT has said they could be required through Tuesday. We are asking all Oncor customers to be prepared to be without power for an extended period of time.

Q: Why are some homes out for hours and others for minutes or not at all?

Again, there are two major issues affecting many of customers right now: winter storm outages and controlled power outages directed by ERCOT. We are using all designated power lines for controlled outages so that hospitals and other critical infrastructure remains intact and system stability is preserved. This means that customers near critical facilities, or those in limited areas where rolling outages won’t take place in order to maintain grid stability, may not experience outages, while those farther from these facilities or areas may be out multiple times or for longer instances.

Additionally, during instances of substantial generation drop, there are safeguards built into the system that drop power loads automatically in order to prevent cascading widespread outages, or ultimately a blackout. These are designed to be shorter term drops that are reset quicker than controlled outages to prepare for the next response opportunity.

Q: When will power generation plants come back on-line?

Due to the severe winter storm, we do not know and it is outside of our control. Conditions for power generation continue to be very serious and the combination of winter weather and reduced generation is unprecedented in the state of Texas. We are prepared for emergency operations to continue for at least several days.

 

Additionally, here is information concerning the City of Dallas’ warming center at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center:

 

The City of Dallas is opening a warming center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD), 650 S Griffin St.

 

The warming center is a 24-hour intake until noon on Wednesday, Feb. 17 and opens at 7:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. Residents can access the warming center on Canton Street (pass the guard shack and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters). The warming center is located in Exhibit Hall A. Residents will be provided a chair and table, and should bring in meals for themselves and their family if they are able to. Water, coffee and light snacks will be made available. The warming center is not an overnight shelter and cots will not be provided.

 

A COVID-19 screening will be required at sign-in. No ID is required. The warming center is set-up for proper social distancing, mask usage is required.

The City of Dallas continues identifying City resources such as recreation centers and libraries to be used as neighborhood warming centers and is working with Oncor to prioritize the sites for power restoration and exemption from rolling blackouts.

 

The most recent status update on the Fair Park Vaccine Operations from Dallas County is also below. Fair Park vaccine operations will be closed through Wednesday, February 17.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2021

Status Update on Fair Park Vaccine Operations

DALLAS – According to the National Weather Service, we are expected to have dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills through tomorrow morning, and another winter storm that should arrive Tuesday and Wednesday. Due to this additional storm, Fair Park vaccine operations will be closed through Wednesday, February 17. We will be closely monitoring the weather situation and there may be additional closures after Wednesday if there are still unsafe conditions. We understand the urgency to administer second doses of the vaccine, but we must also balance people’s safety. As soon as we can safely open again, we will.

We will have sufficient supply of the vaccine to ensure all those who received their first dose of the vaccine at Fair Park, can receive their second dose. You will not lose your opportunity to receive your second dose, it will just be a few days delayed. We will prioritize second doses this week based on the date individuals were supposed to receive their second dose. That means you may not receive your second dose on the exact date written on your vaccination card as that day may be scheduled with individuals who are beyond their vaccination due date, but you will receive your second shot as soon as possible.

The CDC guidance is that second doses of the vaccine may be administered up to 6 weeks after the first dose. While we plan to accommodate those needing a second dose much sooner than that, please know that the CDC does allow for a 42-day timeframe.

For more information and to check for any weather related updates on Fair Park vaccine operations, please visit www.DallasCountyCovid.org.

CONTACT:

Clay Lewis Jenkins, Dallas County Judge

Clay.Jenkins@dallascounty.org

214-653-7949

 

As always, we are here to help how we can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

Thank you,

Paula C. Blackmon

Dallas City Councilmember, District 9

_______________________________________________
Mpumlist mailing list

From: Power Partner Thermostat Program <austin@energyhub.com>
Date: 2021-02-16 15.59.29
Subject: Emergency Thermostat Events This Week  Austin Energy emergency thermostat adjustment events will likely be called this week for up to 4 hours during times when the demand for electricity is expected to be extremely high above what can be supplied (usually mornings or evenings). Your thermostat will automatically decrease by up to 4 degrees during these windows to avoid strain on the energy grid and potential outages in your area.You are participating in these events as part of the Austin Energy Power Partner Thermostats program, a program in which you have previously enrolled to participate in similar events during the summer. This program has been expanded to winter only to address these emergency conditions. You do not need to take any additional actions to participate in this event. If you have any questions about the program itself, please refer to the FAQ page.Your participation in this event is voluntary, and you have the ability to opt-out of this event at any time by adjusting your thermostat back to its original set point. If you no longer wish to participate in this program and would like to unenroll, please contact us here at 512-494-9400.

From: Texas Gas Service <media@texasgasservice.com>
Date: 2021-02-16 08.53.08
Subject: ❗️An Important Severe Winter Weather Update ❗️

Severe Winter Weather Update

The unprecedented cold weather has led to many questions about what we are doing to continue delivering gas safely to your home. Because your safety is our top priority, our employees are working around the clock to do everything they can to keep your service up and running. But, we need your help to reduce the number of people who could potentially lose service during these extremely cold conditions. Given the historic nature of this weather, it will take all of us to avoid a large outage situation. Below you will find answers that explain why there is such a great need for energy conservation and what steps we are taking to prevent any loss of service. Why has this weather caused so many problems? Due to the unprecedented, historically low temperatures over an extended period, we are seeing much higher natural gas use coupled with supply issues. As of this morning, our suppliers of natural gas are experiencing freezing gas wells due to the duration of the extreme cold. This is impacting the amount of gas they are able to provide to us. Are you experiencing natural gas outages? At this time, we’ve been fortunate to have very few outages given the deteriorating weather conditions. However, with below freezing temperatures forecast through the end of the week, we are planning for shortages and putting measures in place to keep gas service to our customers and critical facilities. That’s why we are asking for your help.

What can I do to prevent an outage? There are very small actions you can take that could result in big impacts as more people conserve. These tips include: Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees Adjusting the temperature on your water heater Sealing leaks around doors and windows using blankets or towels Change or clear the filter on your furnace Take a break from doing laundry or washing dishes for a few days Close blinds and curtains

How does conserving my energy usage help? Conservation is critical right now to avoid any widespread outages. If an outage situation occurs, it will take an extended length of time to get your service restored. Once our system is operating again, we need to visit each home to check for leaks and re-establish gas service. This would lead to longer periods without service.What should I do if I lose electricity? During the electrical outage, we ask that you turn off your furnace. Once power comes back on, please wait 10 minutes, then restart your furnace. This will help our natural gas system adjust to the increase in usage and avoid any further disruptions.Thank you in advance for conserving and helping us keep our community safe and warm. If we all do our part, it can help reduce the number of people who could lose their natural gas service in these extremely cold conditions.If you have any questions about the information provided in this email, please connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or email us at media@texasgasservice.com.You can also stay updated on our efforts throughout this winter storm and find tips at TexasGasService.com/SevereCold.As always, if you smell gas, leave the area immediately, then call 911 and call 800-959-5325 . We will respond as quickly and as safely as conditions allow.

“Tredje dagen”, Dag 3 – ons 17 feb

(Email skickat onsdag 2021-02-17 13:08)

“Vaknade först vid 4-tiden, kallt och mörkt, upp o kissa, huvudvärkstablett, o när var där bland medicinen, tog en hutt Nyquill Nite – hostmedicin med lite sömnmedel. Somnade om och sov till nästan 10:30!

Upp, kokade vatten, kaffe på nått gammalt IKEA malkaffe (annars precis som J o I kör bara med bönor, funderade lite på om skulle ta mortel eller nått men har som sagt vad lite malt kaffe än).

Granne hörde av sig om kunde låna en sak, ut, startade bilar, ladda telefoner o extrabatterier, snackar med grannar som gör samma sak.

Bilarna totalt nedisade och var arbete att bara ta sig in.

Sitter i bilen och värmer oss, laddar batteriet, och lyssnar på radio. Folk har det verkligen svårt med ingen el, ingen värme, frysta rör och inget vatten, mat som tar slut, ingen möjlighet att ta sig till varken butiker eller annorstädes. Inte för att ta sig till butiker gör någon större skillnad- om har el så är hyllorna tomma.

Btw, vi är INTE i ett underutvecklat land utan vi är fortfarande kvar i Austin, TX, US of A – ett av världens rikaste länder. Who could know?!

(Vi fortsätter konservera energi och vänligen ta detta som svar på alla andra email ni har skickat!)”

“Nedanstående är meddelande jag nyss skickade på Slack, firmans interna meddelandesystem som information till dem varför jag inte dyker upp i möten som vanligt.

”Just opened up Slack now and catching up. Sitting in the car charging phone batteries, like a number of our neighbors. No electricity yet that is, and Living The Refrigerator Dream inside the house, if anyone has that a dream 😀 We at least still have water (started letting faucets drip already Monday, coming from a cold climate and all that).

This is now into the third day without electricity, except for a couple of hours Tue 02:30-04:33, think they have given up on any forms of rolling blackouts now. Roads are pure ice and undrivable, as unwalkable.

End of today’s slack update, back into power conservation mode.”

J&P”

“Tredje dagen – del 2”, Dag 3 – ons 17 feb

(Email skickat onsdag 2021-02-17 18:01)

“Lite uppdateringen efter förra emailet som skickades 13:14 lokal tid.

Bara några minuter efteråt kom närmaste grannen ut från deras hus med god nyhet.

From: Spectrum <myaccount@spectrumemails.com>
Date: 2021-02-17 04.08.33
Subject: Spectrum Alert- Service Restoration Update

Spectrum Alert: Service Restoration Update

Dear Spectrum Customer,

As the severe winter conditions continue, we realize that your service remains interrupted. Please know that our technicians will begin restoration as soon as conditions safely allow. In many areas, power has yet to be restored, or commercial power providers have shut off electricity as a safety measure. It’s possible that while your address may have electricity, the equipment that delivers service to you may be located in a blackout area. Thank you for your continued patience. To help you stay connected, Spectrum TV customers can enjoy many programming options by downloading our Spectrum TV App. Spectrum Internet customers can access WiFi hotspots nationwide. Find one near you. Get outage information and other helpful resources at Spectrum.net/stormcenter.

Spectrum Customer Support Team   Please do not reply to this message. Replies to this message are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If we can be of further assistance, please visit Spectrum support.

From: Apple News <newsdigest@insideapple.apple.com>
Date: 2021-02-17 06.55.30
Subject: What to know about the extreme winter weather, why U.S. coronavirus cases are dropping, and more from Apple News

At least 20 people have died in the extreme conditions, and more ice, snow, and frigid temperatures are forecast for parts of the country in the coming days. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Millions of Americans — most of them in Texas — are still without electricity. The state’s power grid collapsed under the demand for heat. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

The CDC warned of “widespread delays” in COVID-19 vaccinations, as distribution centers and clinics closed due to dangerous

From: City of Austin <Austin-waste@remember.recollect.net>
Date: 2021-02-17 14.16.54
Subject: Service Alert – Important Message

Service Alert

Important message from City of Austin: Due to the current severe winter weather, our services continue to be suspended, possibly for the remainder of this week, and will resume as weather permits. Affected curbside services include recycling, composting, trash, yard trimmings, bulk item, large brush, street sweeping, downtown litter abatement and dead animal collections. If you can, set your carts or other material out as usual, but be aware that service has been delayed. Leave any uncollected carts, and other material at the curb to allow our crews to catch up. Weather permitting, we will catch up over the weekend and into next week. Stay tuned for any service updates. We apologize for the delays. Thank you for your patience!

From: City of Austin Development Services <dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov>
Date: 2021-02-17 16.33.20
Subject: City operations closed through Friday, February 19

From: Texas Gas Service <media@texasgasservice.com>
Date: 2021-02-17 13.27.32
Subject: ❗️Wednesday Update- Severe Winter Weather❗️

Severe Winter Weather Update

En Espanol We received a lot of good questions and feedback on yesterday’s email update. Based on the response, here is more context around the conservation tips that were provided. Scroll to the bottom for a brief update on our operations. You Are Making a Difference Your efforts have helped us avoid a widespread natural gas outage. We’ve been successful in preventing service disruptions because of what you have done to either lower your thermostat, postpone daily chores that involve hot water or sealing those drafty windows with towels and blankets. Thank you. You are doing your part. Don’t Stop The most important thing right now is to keep it up. We are doing everything we can on our side to maintain the integrity of our system, but we have been successful because of your efforts. Your continued vigilance in conserving where possible is critical until this winter storm is over. Confusion on Conservation Many want to conserve energy but due to health concerns or the status of your electric power, not everyone may be in a position to do so. That’s okay. For those who are in a position to conserve energy usage, we want to commend you for helping us and continuing to reduce your usage. It is making a BIG difference! Furnace Questions The most common question we received yesterday was around the furnace tip we provided. Thank you to those who let us know to be clearer with our instructions. Your input led to the creation of this infographic. Keep your feedback coming. We are listening! Operations Update As of Wednesday morning, we are not experiencing any major outages. Our employees continue to work around the clock, and we are positioning them at critical locations in preparation for any service outages that our modeling may indicate.

Infographic from link mentioned above:

“Fjärde dagen”, Dag 4 – tors 18 feb

(Email skickat torsdag 2021-02-18 10:38)

“Först- tack för alla uppmuntrande email, de värmer i själen!!

Vakande första gången runt 4, yepp- kallt, tyst, och mörkt, fortfarande ingen el. Lika bra o ligga kvar i sängvärmen. Nästippen är lite frysen men sånt har man ju varit med om förr. (En annan, som var en sån generation, gjorde ju t.o.m. lumpen, och tältade där i Bodens skogar i -30C, så på en skala är det här egentligen inte så svårt. Ok, då hade ju vi fungerande proviantkedjor så liknelsen är ju egentligen inte så bra…)

Anyhow, lyssnar på bok, slumrar lite och rycker till alldeles vid 8-tiden, Hej, Pernilla, hör du? VÄRMEN GÅR! Vi har el igen!

Upp, på med kaffe, o batterierna på laddning igen.
8:53 försvinner elen igen.
Men, bara för några minuter. Som inte kändes så kul dock… Men, sen tillbaka och nu har vi haft el i dryg timme till. And counting! 😀

Druckit färskmalet kaffe igen. Lagat och ätit mat. Och sitter nu o tar det lugnt framför brasan.

Vi har allt funderat mycket på att försöka ta oss ner till San Antonio men är oroliga för att vägarna kan vara väldigt isiga. Elsystemet verkar fungera bättre därnere… (Haft kontakter med granne där nere.)

Men, men, vi får se. Prognosen är att det skall vara fortsatt fryskallt här, dock bara alldeles under noll, men också möjlighet till mer snöfall under dagen.

I alltihop så vred jag till ryggen igår och fick svårt o röra på mig. Tur man har Syster P med resurser! Värmepålägg på ryggen. (Ni skulle se hennes handväska- som Mary Poppins, eller nått!)

Förövrigt så ska det bli intressant med eftermäle på allt detta. Fick t.ex. bekräftat att en av våra senatorer – T Cruz, republikan – hade flugit ner till Mexico i allt det här. Kaptenen flyr det sjunkande skeppet och så. Och en annan – Beto O’Rourke, demokrat- sitter o ringer runt till folk och hör hur de har det, om de behöver hjälp… Beto till Guvernör!!
Vi har stött honom tidigare och kommer att göra det igen!!!

Well, till nästa gång- varma kramar från
J o P

P.S. Internetkabeln är fortfarande nere och vi alla fortsätter med mycket långsamt mobilnät. D.S.”

From: CNN’s 5 Things <5things@newsletters.cnn.com>
Date: 2021-02-18 05.31.03
Subject: Another day of misery in Texas

From: Apple News <newsdigest@insideapple.apple.com>
Date: 2021-02-18 07.53.15
Subject: Another round of extreme weather threatens U.S., new details on missing Dubai princess, and more from Apple News

More than 100 million Americans are in the path of a new winter storm that is expected to head from the southern Plains to the East Coast over the next few days, the National Weather Service said. USA TODAY

Texans face more misery: Amid widespread power outages, officials told residents to conserve water and boil it before use. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

Date: 2021-02-18 11.41.28
Subject: Cold Weather

Marina Updates

Dear Safe Harbor Emerald Point Members, The weather has been a challenge for the state of Texas.  It looks like the end is in sight Saturday.  We hope everyone is doing well.

Dry Stack Members Dry stack will remain closed until further notice. We have been able to keep the temperature above freezing for the majority of the time considering the freezing temperatures.  The average temperature has been about 35 degrees.  The marina has not lost power which is just amazing!!! The water will remain off until we are able to analyze all broken pipes and repair them.  The water is off at the marina but also there is no water in all of Hudson Bend.  We will update you when we know more. Last Friday we did not receive delivery of an extra propane heater so we rented a huge diesel heater which has been attended to every 10-12 hours.  This has helped kept temperatures above freezing.   We will remain closed until we receive delivery of fuel or diesel. We have to thank Kyle from Madison for being our angel during these difficult times for servicing the heaters.  I have to thank my husband for driving me back and forth to check on things when we can actually get out of our neighborhood.  We will return to full-staff Saturday, if road conditions are safe, to get things back to “normal” as quickly as possible.  We will update dry stack members as soon we can.

Wet Slip Members We have not lost power on the docks and have not seen any issues with any boats. Docks are still iced over and very slippery so please if you do go to the marina be extremely careful. Lowered boats on hoists all look fine also.  If you lowered your hoist Saturday or Sunday will probably be the day to come back and raise.  If docks conditions are still not safe we will notify you.  Also, check road conditions at drivetexas.org. We know we have broken water lines on the docks so please be patient as we repair all before turning the water on.  The Hudson Bend area does not have water at this time either so we will update when we know more. We would like to thank Joey and Wayne for keeping an eye on the docks daily.  They have also been my angels helping any way they can.

We will continue to monitor the weather closely, and please contact the Marina office if you have questions. Warmest Regards, Kelly E…, General Manager

From: Blackmon, Paula [mailto:paula.blackmon@dallascityhall.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2021 12:59 PM
Cc: District 9 <District9@dallascityhall.com>
Subject: Severe Weather Update – February 18Neighbors,I hope your power has been restored and you are warm. If not – please continue to reach out to my office so we can assist you. As we continue to work through this emergency, I am humbled and proud of our community for stepping up to help one another. Like you, I am concerned for our residents who have been stuck in the cold for days, some without water or food. Simply put – the need for help and assistance is big and it will take all of us coming together to help our neighbors recover from this devastation.To that end- I am asking for your help. If you know of someone in need, PLEASE have them fill out this Google Form. It is available in both English and Spanish. I am working around the clock with our corporate and philanthropic partners on ways to best serve our neighbors in need during this time. Please share this form far and wide so we can reach as many people as possible.The City of Dallas is working on a central location where donations (both monetary and material) can be centralized. At this time, I know the Kay Bailey Hutchison Warming Center is in need of men’s hats, coats, gloves and hoodies. When I have more information about where additional donations can be made, my office will share it.I have also included Oncor’s most recent update. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my office if you need anything – we are here to help.Thank you,Paula C. BlackmonDallas City Councilmember, District 9Please help us share this information to your neighbors: DISTRICT 9 ROLLCALL: What do you and your neighbors need? We are working with our neighborhoods, nonprofits and corporate partners to provide the goods and services our East Dallas family needs. Please fill out this form so we can make specific asks of our partners.ATTENCION DISTRICTO 9: ¿Qué necesitan usted y sus vecinos? Estamos trabajando con nuestros vecindarios, organizaciones comunitarias y socios corporativos para ayudarlos con bienes y servicios que necesita nuestra familia de East Dallas. Complete este formulario para que podamos hacer preguntas específicas a nuestros socios de las necesidades de nuestra comunidad.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOJCMtf9l5JPGmScRd–62qtvTzHK7L0QHF9AGwOJGOnnltg/viewformONCOR: EMERGENCY UPDATE (As of 5:56AM Thursday, February 18)Yesterday, ERCOT directed Oncor and other utilities to begin restoring power previously dropped from the electric grid. As a result of the increased generation and stable demand, Oncor has since been able to cease controlled, or rotating, outages.As of 5:30 a.m. this morning, there are approximately 150,000 remaining Oncor customers without power. This is a result of damage from yesterday’s winter storm, previous winter weather and storm damage that could not be identified until equipment was re-energized, and damage to electric equipment caused by record-breaking low temperatures.Our personnel will continue working 24/7 to restore power to these remaining customers. We recognize the hardships that this power emergency has caused for our customers and communities. We appreciate their patience as we awaited the return of electric generation and protected the Texas electric grid.Due to the large amounts of system activity surrounding power restoration, we expect it will take some time for our tracking systems to accurately reflect these updates in our outage map. In addition, we will continue to follow the direction of ERCOT should electric generation change and immediately take steps to inform our customers of any updates.

_______________________________________________

Mpumlist mailing list

From: Austin Energy <outagealerts@austinenergy.com>
Date: 2021-02-18 14.21.15
Subject: Update from Austin Energy

Power Restoration Update
There has been some relief on The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid, and Austin Energy has been able to restore power to thousands of customers.ERCOT — the Texas grid manager — has allowed us to restore numerous circuits, and we’ve been working to safely restore as many customers as we can, prioritizing the customers that have been out the longest, those on critical loads, and areas with large groupings of outages. As long as conditions on the grid and ERCOT can support these efforts, power and restoration will continue.

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Austin Energy is working around the clock to restore power. If you don’t see your outage reflected on the Outage Map, this may be an instance where the original outage has been resolved, but other issues exist, preventing restoration. If a customer would like to be sure their address is listed as still having no power, they can call 512-322-9100.

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It’s a process to get power restored. Circuits serving fewer customers may come online easier than heavily loaded circuits. For the heavily loaded circuits, we bring them up in sections to test their ability to handle the amount of demand on the line. This can take time and reveal other issues that need to be addressed before a full restoration, including:

• Ice bringing down vegetation into equipment.
• Ice bringing down power lines.
• Ice causing equipment to malfunction.

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If you are currently without power, you can help us avoid overloaded circuits and additional outages when power comes back on by:

• Turning off your thermostats.
• Turning off light fixtures and unplugging any appliances.
• Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on.

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If you have power, please use as little as possible to assist us in getting the electricity back on for others. You can help by:

• Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower.
• Keeping your doors and windows closed to minimize warm air escaping your home.
• Unplug all nonessential electronics.
• Avoid using large appliances like dryers.

From: City of Austin <Austin-waste@remember.recollect.net>
Date: 2021-02-18 14.32.08
Subject: Service Alert – Important Message

Service Alert

Important message from City of Austin: SERVICE TO RESUME: Starting on Friday, February 19, trash and recycling services will resume for those with service scheduled on that day. The facility that processes the City’s composting currently remains closed, due to the inclement weather, so composting and yard trimming collections will resume on Monday, February 22. Large brush and bulk item collections will begin on Saturday for those who missed a scheduled collection due to the severe weather. Please set out carts, bulk and large brush by 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Collections may take longer than usual, due to road conditions and excess material to be collected. Leave any uncollected carts, and other material at the curb to allow our crews to catch up. Thank you for your patience!

“(Femte dagen)”, Dag 5 – fre 19 feb

(Email skickat fredag 2021-02-19 08:30)

“Egentligen nu inget att yvas över längre- nu har vi haft el sedan igår och nu ”vi går mot bättre tider, tro mig, tro mig”, som Ulf Lundell sjunger.

Alldeles sagolikt vackert där ute med sådär -7C/19F men det kommer att gå mot plusgrader redan under dagen. Töar nog vägar så man kanske vågar sig ut lite senare idag, eller kanske väntar tills imorgon.

För oss är saker o ting tillbaka till ganska normalt förutom:
– man ska koka allt vatten innan användning (och jag tror bestämt jag missade en gång igår med kaffekokning… magen var ”rolig” hela natten… 😀)
– väntar fortfarande på att få tillbaka fasta Internet-servicen (och med det TV – här i Austin så har vi bara dylikt via Internet, satellit-baserade systemet är nere i SA, tillsammans med varenda DVD mm, så klart 🥲)”

From: City of Austin <Austin-waste@remember.recollect.net>
Date: 2021-02-19 13.32.30 1231360
Subject: Service Alert – Important Message

Service Alert

Important message from City of Austin: SERVICE SUSPENDED UNTIL MONDAY: While our crews have attempted to resume service today, road conditions remain unsafe. For the safety of our crews and the Austin community, we have suspended the remainder of collections that were scheduled to resume today and over the weekend. All curbside services will resume on Mon., Feb. 22. Please set out carts, bulk and large brush by 6:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Collections may take longer than usual, due to road conditions and excess material to be collected. Leave any uncollected material at the curb to allow crews to catch up over the week and into next weekend. Scheduled large brush and bulk item collections that were missed due to the severe weather will begin on Monday and continue until crews catch up.

From: City of Austin Development Services <dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov>
Date: 2021-02-19 13.40.34
Subject: Information About Emergency Repairs and Permitting Assistance

From: Celia Israel <info@celiafortexas.com>
Date: 2021-02-19 09.00.55
Subject: Shame on Texas

Dear friend, First of all, I hope you are safe despite the historic vortex of 2021. Mother Nature just isn’t done teaching us life lessons yet. While we all did our best to take care of friends, family, and neighbors, our infrastructure throughout the state let us down in tragic and embarrassing ways this week. The energy capital of the world showed the stresses of extreme weather. During its peak, we had more than 4 million Texans without a source of heat. All the while, leaders took to conservative media outlets to throw renewable energy under the bus rather than own the situation at hand. As I stated in a TV interview, this is an embarrassing moment and we must ask tough questions of those responsible. We lost dozens of Texas lives, suffered incredible damage to homes and businesses, and our standing in the world as an energy leader took a hit. All because our energy infrastructure wasn’t properly maintained and ready. So here is my ask: #1 – Tell us your story. I want to hear from you and know what the impact of this storm was on you and your family. #2 – Pay attention to state government. Thank goodness the legislature IS in session and we will be asking difficult questions to get to the true bottom of the situation — rest assured, I will push for real system change. On February 25th, tune into a Joint Public Hearing of the Committees on Energy and State Affairs to see how we begin to grapple with the situation. #3 – Don’t forget the lessons of this vortex. Texans look out for one another, but we don’t appreciate those who dodge responsibility and cover up problems. Too often, the legislature reacts to a critical situation months after the event (Think: El Paso and Odessa Shootings) and as emotions have calmed down, we get small crumbs of change when we needed big change. I hope you’ll keep us all accountable — including Senators and statewide elected officials who need to hear your voice. ESSENTIAL RESOURCES EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY LINES: 9-1-1: For life-threatening emergencies 3-1-1: For non-emergency assistance or transportation assistance to a local shelter 2-1-1: Foodbank Hotline 512-972-1000: Report a water main break or request assistance turning off your water WARMING CENTERS (Open 9am-9pm): Find your nearest location here These sites are for vulnerable populations needing warmth, and for folks needing to charge phones or medical devices. OVERNIGHT SHELTERS (Open 24/7): Find your nearest location here The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) has partnered with the City of Austin/Travis County to open Church Shelters throughout the Greater Austin area to provide for families and individuals in need. These locations are not equipped with full services. People accessing these locations should bring supplies and blankets. TRANSPORTATION Monitor highway conditions and road closures at DriveTexas.org. Driving conditions continue to be hazardous across the region, and the public is encouraged to leave roads clear for first responders and those seeking shelter. BACKGROUND And finally, like many of you, I was reading a lot about energy issues during this horrible crisis. I recommend a couple of articles: Forbes Magazine assessed the Valentine’s Day vortex and gave a factual overview of the situation. A local Houston TV station nailed it on the head with the shirking of responsibility from several years back. The Texas Tribune put renewable energy into context during this crisis. If anything, we should pay attention to weather extremes and plan for MORE of them. Many of us are shaken by what we’ve just been through, but we can’t be shaken by the strong human spirit which showed up in many ways — from friends taking in friends, to restaurants turning into emergency kitchens for those who had no food or resources. God bless you all and stay safe.

Sinceramente, Celia Israel

“(Sjätte dagen)”, Dag 6 – lör 20 feb

(Email skickat lördag 2021-02-20 18:52)

Date: 2021-02-20 13.10.04
Subject: Emerald Point Marina Update

Good Afternoon Members,

We are very happy we did not lose power during this insane winter storm.

Now that we are defrosting we are finding many water main lines broken to all docks.  This is going to take some time to repair and get water back on to the docks.  It’s also going to be a challenge to find supplies to repair.  We are analyzing now and going to start searching for supplies to begin repairs.  We repaired the line to our dry stack area so that bathroom is available.  The bathroom below the restaurant is closed, no water running to restaurant yet and a main line broke which flooded that bathroom.  Please do not use that bathroom or the bathrooms at the ship store.  We have no water so we cannot flush.  We have already cleaned up what has been used while we were away.  Please don’t use them…

My office has water, on separate line, so if you need to use my bathroom feel free to stop by.

Again, we will work as quickly as we can to get these repaired.

Now, let’s get back to enjoying the sunshine and our boats!

Thanks,

Kelly

Sön 21 feb (“dag 7”)

Ok, så nu har Austin tinat upp och huset här ser ut att klarat sig till största del (lite problem men inget en händig man fixar, nu gäller det bara att hitta en sån :smiley:)

Vi kör ner till San Antonio runt 13-tiden, “springer” direkt på grannar och bestämmer att träffas på tisdagskvällen.

Huset här ner ser också ut att klarat sig utan några som helst problem.

From: Dallas Magazine <social@dallasmagazine.com>
Date: 2021-02-21 18.30.09
Subject: $7,000 electric bill for this Dallas resident

THAT’S SO DALLAS Deandre Upshaw of Dallas received a $7,000 electricity bill because of extreme natural-gas price surging during the winter storm. His provider, Griddy, is among the unique Texas companies whose customers pay wholesale variable rates per kilowatt hour instead of a fixed rate. Griddy’s customers were running up about $1,000 a day over five days of freezing temperatures, and some say the company wiped out their bank accounts through automatic bill pay. The Houston-based company saw this coming and asked its customers to switch to another provider just ahead of the storm, but it was too late for most of them. And now Austin politicians say the Texas Legislature should address this emergency. (CNN)

THE CATCH-UP Coronavirus: Dallas County reported 273 new cases, including 44 probable cases, and 22 deaths Tuesday. (Details)Federal relief: Texas is calling in plumbers from other states because there’s so much freeze damage. Here’s how to apply for disaster assistance from FEMA. (WFAA)Lawsuits: A Dallas law firm, Fears Nachawati, is among the first to bring litigation against ERCOT. The lawsuit says the Texas grid operator took virtually no action after a 357-page report on the 2011 Super Bowl storm spelled out steps to prevent future failures. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)ICYMI: The Texas governor went on Fox News last week to indict the Green New Dealand blame the blackouts on renewable energy. The New York Times says he was incorrect.It’s getting hot in here: Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins blasted state leadership in an appearance on cable news Sunday. Since Jenkins says not enough was done to weatherize and modernize the grid after 2011, he warns the same could happen again if people lose interest: “Texans and the world need to keep an eye on this.” (MSNBC)Texas electric grid facts and solutions: The Wall Street Journal did an in-depth story (as opposed to all of the finger-pointing elsewhere) explaining why the Texas electric grid nearly failed and adjustments we can make to fix it. (WSJ)What a week: Dallas Fire Rescue responded to 37 structure fires in three days and averaged 2,800 calls Feb. 16-17. Fifteen fire stations lost power, and there were no breaks on 24-hour shifts. (WFAA)

From: Austin Water <myatxwater@austintexas.gov>
Date: 2021-02-22 16.15.39
Subject: Austin Water Alert- Boil Water Notice EXPIRED