Austin: Non-Essential City Operations to Remain Closed Due to Winter Weather

With the City of Austin continuing to face freezing temperatures for the next few days, the decision has been made to suspend normal operations on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. During this time, all essential public safety services will continue.

The National Weather Service is predicting the strong, arctic cold front will continue to cause freezing temperatures through the weekend, and the Austin area may not start to thaw out until later in the day on Saturday.

City departments continue to monitor the freezing weather conditions, and the community is being reminded that the streets will be hazardous to drive on, and it is safer to stay home.

For regular updates visit AustinTexas.gov/Alerts for information in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Burmese, Urdu, Arabic, French, Hindi, and Pashto. Residents can text ATXWEATHER to 888-777 for updates in English or ATXCLIMA to 888-777 for updates in Spanish.

Information from City Departments

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) has canceled services for the rest of the week, and the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center and Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant will remain closed until Monday Feb. 7. As the weather conditions worsen and the ice continues to accumulate on the roads, ARR now asks that you bring your carts in to avoid them sliding away. They will empty them on your next scheduled collection day. Continue to leave any missed brush and bulk from this week at the curb. Download the Austin Recycles mobile app or sign up for reminders to get important service alerts: austintexas.gov/myschedule

Austin Public Health: Environmental Health Services at the Rutherford Lane Campus, Office of Vital Records, Neighborhood Centers, and all WIC, Shots for Tots/Big Tots, Sexual Health, Refugee Health Screening and Tuberculosis clinics will be closed Friday, Feb. 4.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites will also be closed Friday. These closures include the newly opened Metz Elementary testing site. The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center testing site will have a delayed start on Saturday, Feb. 5, and will run from 12-4 PM. Please follow @AusPublicHealth on Twitter and www.facebook.com/austinpublichealth for updates.

All Parks and Recreation facilities will remain closed except for emergency shelters. Outdoor restrooms and water fountains are turned off to protect the infrastructure from freezing damage. Summer Camp registration for qualified Financial Aid and Adaptive/Inclusion Support participants will now begin on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6 PM. Additional closure information and updates are available at AustinTexas.gov/ParkClosures.

Austin Public Library: All Austin Public Library locations will remain closed on Friday, February 4. For locations with Saturday hours, the opening time on Saturday, February 5 will be delayed until 12:00 PM. All other locations will reopen with normal hours on Monday, February 7.

Austin Public Works Department facilities will remain closed on Friday. Essential workers such as field crews are still working around the clock. Follow @AustinMobility on Twitter for up-to-date closure information.

Austin Transportation Department facilities will remain closed on Friday, Feb. 4. Essential workers such as field crews and traffic management staff are still working around the clock.

Austin Energy: Austin Energy prepared for extreme cold weather; tips for customers to stay warm.

Austin Water: Cold Weather Tips for Potential Freezing Weather.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Cold Weather Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness Activated.

All Economic Development Department facilities will be closed Friday, including the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility (AACHF) and the Entrepreneurial Center. Follow @AustinEconDev on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date closure information.

Development Services Department: The Permitting and Development Center will be closed on Friday, Feb. 4.

Austin Animal Services: Pet owners encouraged to take winter storm precautions.