Austin and Travis County warn of early extreme-heat wave; cooling centers opened

Mayor Watson and Travis County officials held a joint press conference in Austin on Monday to warn residents about an unusually early extreme-heat event and to describe local response steps, including the opening of cooling centers and targeted outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

Officials said forecasts call for daytime highs around 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday and up to 105 on Tuesday, with several consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures expected. The mayor and county emergency officials urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during peak heat, check on vulnerable neighbors and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.

The city and county have opened cooling centers at libraries and recreation centers in Del Valle, Manor, Jonestown, Oak Hill, Pflugerville and downtown Austin. Officials said those sites are operating during normal daytime hours and that hours may be extended when conditions warrant. City and county web pages and the WARN Central Texas alert system list current locations and operating hours.

Mayor Watson said the heat can be dangerous and urged precautions and neighbor checks. Dream Riddick, director of Homeland Security for Austin, said the city will continue public messaging and reminded residents to register for WARN Central Texas text alerts to receive emergency notices.

Wes Hopkins, chief of Emergency Medical Services, noted the public-health risks for people not acclimated to early extreme heat, saying, "Esto es lo más temprano que hemos visto de de calores de 3 dígitos en 40 años." He warned that symptoms can quickly progress from cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke and instructed people to move to shade and call 911 if someone shows confusion or severe symptoms.

David Gray, the county official overseeing outreach to people experiencing homelessness, said county outreach teams are coordinating with libraries and partner organizations to offer water, information and shelter options. Gray said the county has registered about 4,000 people experiencing homelessness for text alerts and ordered more than 4,000 bottles of water for outreach teams.

Officials reiterated workplace precautions for outdoor workers and said supervisors should provide frequent breaks, shade and cold water or electrolyte replacements. They also warned about surface temperatures on pavement and sidewalks that can harm pets' paws and urged people to avoid walking animals during the hottest parts of the day.

The city and county encouraged residents to: hydrate before going outdoors; wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), hats and light clothing; schedule strenuous activity for mornings or evenings; and use cooling centers if home air conditioning is insufficient. Officials also said they will coordinate extended cooling-center hours and staffing as needed and that the city and county will continue public outreach through WARN Central Texas and partner agencies.

For current cooling center locations and to register for alerts, officials directed residents to the WARN Central Texas website.