ABIA Disaster Drill
The City of Austin conducted a disaster exercise on Monday, April 14, 2008 to test response and interagency coordination for an emergency occurring on at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. We wish to thank the volunteers who gave their time to make the drill such a success!
The City of Austin Earns "Storm Ready" Recertification
The City of Austin was recognized by the National Weather Service on March 21, 2008 as one of four areas in Central Texas to be certified as “StormReady.” The “StormReady” program recognizes communities that are prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through better planning, education, and awareness. To earn this designation, various City agencies work together to ensure that citizens are prepared for severe weather and that emergency warning systems effectively alert the public.
Technological advances in warning systems, like the Emergency Notification System, allow the city to alert residents of emergency situations. Residents are called with a pre-recorded message to warn them when there is an actual flood event or other emergency that could endanger their lives or property.
Other technological support includes the placement of cameras in various flood prone areas and the use of amateur radio operators to assist with providing hospitals and other vital services with communications capabilities when power failures occur. Additional steps to improve preparedness include Skywarn traning classes which are offered to citizens to educate them on how to spot severe weather and how to report it as it develops. All of these things serve to make our community better prepared to weather the storm.
Director Otis J. Latin, Sr. accepted the honors at a news conference on the banks of Shoal Creek, site of major flood damage during the infamous Memorial Day flood of 1981.
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