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Austin Prepares to Resume Normal Operations After Winter Storm
City officials say cold weather shelters, utilities, and transportation services are returning to regular operations.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:15am
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The city of Austin, Texas, is winding down its winter storm response operations and preparing to return to normal activities. Austin Emergency Management announced that cold weather shelters will resume regular operations by Wednesday evening, and Austin Water remained operational throughout the freezing weather, though customers may start to see leaks from thawing lines. Austin Energy crews worked around the clock to restore power, and the city's transportation and public works departments kept priority roadways and bridges safe. CapMetro also began limited bus, rail, and bikeshare service on Tuesday.
Why it matters
The winter storm caused significant disruptions to Austin's infrastructure and services, and the city's ability to quickly restore normal operations is crucial for residents to return to their daily lives and routines. This response highlights the city's emergency preparedness and coordination efforts to mitigate the impacts of severe weather events.
The details
According to the city, the Austin Police Department responded to 2,291 calls for service between January 25 and 27, including 187 crashes and 226 traffic hazards. Austin-Travis County EMS received more than 2,100 calls for service, responding to 47 cold-related illness incidents and 49 collisions involving injury. The Austin Fire Department responded to 430 fire alarms, 175 traffic incidents, 91 broken water pipes, and other emergencies. Austin 311, the city's non-emergency hotline, received over 100 service requests related to the Emergency Operations Center activation.
- On Tuesday, Austin Emergency Management (AEM) said that winter storm response operations were winding down.
- Cold Weather Shelters would return to normal operations by Wednesday evening.
- CapMetro began limited bus, rail, bikeshare pickup and access service at noon on Tuesday.
The players
Austin Emergency Management (AEM)
The city's emergency management agency that coordinated the winter storm response efforts.
Austin Water
The city's water utility that remained operational throughout the freezing weather.
Austin Energy
The city's electric utility that worked to restore power outages caused by the winter storm.
Austin Transportation & Public Works
The city departments that deployed staff to keep priority roadways and bridges safe during the storm.
CapMetro
Austin's public transportation agency that resumed limited bus, rail, and bikeshare service after the storm.
What’s next
The city said Austin Park and Recreation locations may have some facilities remain closed due to issues related to ice and freezing temperatures, and the public is advised to call ahead before visiting.
The takeaway
Austin's coordinated emergency response and ability to quickly restore critical services and infrastructure after the winter storm demonstrates the city's preparedness and resilience in the face of severe weather events. The collaboration between various city departments and agencies helped mitigate the impacts on residents and allowed a swift return to normal operations.
