Findings in the new report indicate the city failed to address some of the same issues identified after the February 2021 freeze.
– or an after-action report – detailing the City of Austin’s shortfalls during this year's winter storm identifies six areas where the city can stand to make improvements: communications, planning and preparation, operational coordination, resource/asset management, technology and infrastructure, and shelter management.that left hundreds of thousands of residents without power, some for as long as two weeks.
“You are already seeing a large number of things that have been done to make improvements even before the after-action report was complete” he told KUT. “It ought to be seen as a roadmap. It ought to be used as a road map. And it's one thing to be willing to recognize where mistakes were made, but it's another to get them fixed, and we are going to get them fixed."Effective and clear communication, including in languages other than English, is crucial during city-wide emergencies.
“The city and county should implement a program or system to categorize and document the different types of available shelters to include each facility’s amenities and assets… In addition, the city and county should harden buildings identified as possible shelter locations to include back up power. They should also develop a staffing plan with multiple contingencies and backups to ensure smooth operations.