Travis County’s chief emergency management coordinator, Eric Carter, told the Commissioners Court Tuesday that county and city departments coordinated preparedness actions, opened warming centers and conducted public outreach during a recent cold-weather event.

Carter said departments focused on road safety, sheltering and public messaging and worked with media and social channels to remind residents to prepare now for winter weather. He told the court that for the following week there was a chance of colder temperatures but no precipitation forecast at the time, and that the county maintains daily contact with the National Weather Service.

Commissioners asked how the public can find shelter and other resources in time. Carter said the county maintains data layers for resource locations but does not publish every layer before an incident because some facilities are not always activated; he said the county publishes confirmed openings — for example, the City of Austin’s warming centers — and posts updates at oem.traviscountytx.gov. Hector (director of the Public Information Office) said the PIO will distribute information via social media, the county website and press releases and will work to incorporate lessons learned from after‑action reports.

Carter and PIO staff said the city has moved to earlier triggers for shelter openings in recent years and that a 24‑hour advance notice for openings has improved community response. Commissioners stressed the importance of reaching older adults and residents without reliable internet access through television, radio and other traditional outlets. No vote was taken; the briefing was informational.