Find City of Austin resources and services to help you recover from the ice storm. 

Be alert to scams! If you are an Austin Water or Austin Energy customer and you receive a phone call threatening to interrupt service, prevent repairs, demand immediate payment, or request credit card or bank account information, hang up and dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 and report the incident immediately. 

 

Para español, visite la página de Recursos para reparaciones de emergencia en Austin.

 

Resource and Information Centers

 

tree Storm Debris Removal

 

Storm Debris Removal on Private Property

Austin Resource Recovery crews are resuming regular curbside trash, recycling, and composting service starting February 6. Residents should set their carts out on their regular collection day. Item limits will be temporarily waived for storm debris collection. 

Residents with physical limitations or financial needs requiring help cleaning up winter storm debris can request volunteer assistance through the Austin Disaster Relief Network. 

Request a collection of downed tree limbs due to the storm by contacting Austin 3-1-1 via its mobile app, online request form or calling 3-1-1 (512-974-2000). Please have the limbs at the curb ready for collection at no charge to the customer. Debris should be cut and assembled using the following guidelines: 

  • Branches and limbs should be between 5 and 15 feet in length. Branches and limbs longer than 15 feet should be cut down. 
  • Tree trunks thicker than 8 inches in diameter should be cut down to 3 feet long or less.  
  • Stack loosely along the curb in one row, not more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet, with cut ends facing the street. 
  • Please don't block the sidewalk or 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. 

 

Austin and Travis County residents can drop yard trimmings and large brush at:  

 

Austin’s Tree Ordinance allows for storm-related emergency tree removal before receiving a permit. There is no fee for a permit to remove a dead, diseased, or imminent hazard tree, but documentation will be required. 

On residential property, trees less than 19" in diameter (measured 4'6" above grade) are unregulated and do not require permits for maintenance. Learn more about tree care. 

Storm Debris Management in the Right of Way 

Residents should report downed trees in the right of way by calling 3-1-1 or using the 311 mobile app. The request will be routed to sector crews to help with our effort. 

 3-1-1Repairs and Permits

The City’s Development Services Department will work retroactively with homeowners, business owners and contractors to permit and inspect emergency repairs to ensure work was completed safely. That means that work can begin quickly on repairs. Types of repairs that will require permits include:

  • Ruptured or damaged water lines 
  • Main electrical service 
  • Structural damage 

Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Rebuilding Your Home or Office After a Weather Emergency and learn how to choose a contractor and how to pay for repair work. 

 Austin CodeAustin Code

Common weather-related violations may include no hot water, burst pipes, and cracks in the ceiling or walls. Residents experiencing a possible code violation should first notify their landlord.

For complaints related to tenant-occupied properties, inspectors are following up to ensure landlords get their properties up to code as quickly as possible. Visit the Austin Code page to learn how to report a possible code violation. 

report damagesReport Your Damages

Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) Damage Surveys

The public is encouraged report ice storm impacts through the iSTAT survey to help local government agencies get a full assessment of damage impacts from the storm. 

Reporting damages to Emergency Management is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. However, contributions from the public help Emergency Management personnel provide a clearer picture of the extent of damage across the community, and it helps prioritize the deployment of emergency response crews at the local level as reports arrive. 

Travis County Central Appraisal District 

Travis County property owners may qualify for a temporary disaster-related exemption if their home or business was damaged by the recent ice storm. The Travis Central Appraisal District website includes an explanation of the exemption, information on how to apply, and a calculator for property owners to estimate if they qualify. The deadline to apply is May 22, 2023. More information is available online at: https://traviscad.org/disasters. 

Red Cross

Residents can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to request help when they have been impacted by a disaster. For more information visit the Central Texas Red Cross Get Help page. 

Austin Energy Austin Energy

Visit Austin Energy's Winter Storm Restoration and Recovery Work for more information about restoration efforts. 

Customers without power can check the Austin Energy outage map and report their outage online or by texting 287846. Customers who receive a text that an outage in their area has been restored should reply OUT if they still have an outage. Smaller outages can continue after a major circuit has been repaired when secondary power lines or equipment have also been damaged. 

If your property has experienced damage to electrical equipment, please call a licensed electrician. Individual repairs must be made before Austin Energy can reenergize power to your property. This may also affect power restoration to your neighbors. Review information on Austin Energy’s Electric Service Planning Application and Emergency Permits. 

 People wearing hard hatsAustin Water

If you have a water outage or need to report a leak in your neighborhood, call Austin Water’s 24-Hour Dispatch Team at 512-972-1000. Austin’s water and wastewater treatment plants continue to operate normally, and water storage levels remain healthy. Austin Water encourages everyone to check for leaks in and around their homes.

safety information Safety Information

 

Road Dangers 

Road dangers still exist due to the remaining downed power lines. Trees have been weakened and may continue to fall people should remain aware of their surroundings.  

 

Watch the Weather Forecast 

Trees are still vulnerable after the winter storm and may have broken limbs higher up in their branches that you can’t see. Strong winds and rain may cause additional tree limbs to fall, potentially creating additional damage. 

 

Food Safety 

Refrigerated or frozen foods may not be safe to eat after the loss of power. Read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Food Safety for Power Outages.  

Austin Resource Recovery customers can dispose of any spoiled food by placing it in their green composting cart for collection, and recycle the glass, plastic and metal containers. Place all plastic wrap, waxy paper and Styrofoam packaging in the trash. 

 

Emergency Shelter 

For individuals and families who remain without power or can no longer afford to stay in a hotel and need a place to shower or sleep, dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 to request overnight stays. 

Sleeping cots, shower facilities, food + water, pet sheltering, and charging stations are all accessible at emergency shelter. Once a shelter request is made, residents will receive a call back from City of Austin personnel between the hours of 7 a.m.-7 p.m. with information on next steps. 

 Homeowners assistanceHomeowners Assistance

The Austin Housing and Planning Department’s home repair program can assist eligible homeowners who need repairs. Call 512-974-3100 or email the Austin Housing and Planning Department with questions about these services. 

View Tips for Filing Insurance Claims (PDF) 

 Tenant resourcesTenant Resources

Visit Resources for Renters to see if you qualify for tenant resources, including legal consultation, residential rental assistance, utility bill assistance, and more.   

View Cold Weather Information & Resources for Tenants (PDF) 

Housing Assistance:

Local Government IconDeclarations

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown signed local disaster declarations for the February 2023 winter storm. This is the first step in the process of seeking state and federal assistance for response and recovery efforts for the community. Read the City of Austin’s declaration of disaster caused by severe winter weather. 

Governor Greg Abbott issued an Ice Storm Disaster Declaration on February 4. The disaster declaration includes Denton, Hays, Henderson, Milam, Smith, Travis, and Williamson counties. Additional counties may be added to the declaration as damage assessments are completed.