Austin mayor apologizes as city struggles to restore power

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Widespread power outages in the Texas capital stretched into a third day Friday for thousands of residents following a winter storm that was spiraling into a management crisis as city leaders remained unable to say when all the lights would come back on.

Impatience among frazzled, freezing and fed-up families in Austin escalated even as milder weather returned. On Friday, the newly elected mayor stood before cameras and apologized after a week of slow repairs, failed technology and lacking communication with the public.

“The city let its citizens down. The situation is unacceptable to the community, and it’s unacceptable to me,” said Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat who took office in January. “And I’m sorry.”

While New England began shivering and closed schools under an Arctic blast expected to bring the coldest weather in a generation, temperatures finally started to moderate Friday and bring some relief to Austin, where at any given time about 30% of customers in the nation’s 11th-largest city have been without electricity since the ice storm swept into Texas late Monday.

https://apnews.com/article/winter-storms-texas-power-woes-linger-324597af427713087bffbb7787428444

[walkingman]

1. We got our power back this AM - quite a strange event. Below freezing for 66 hours

but only 30-31 mostly but raining ice. When you live in a city with lots of established neighborhoods and lots of greenspace and trees not really much can be done. At least the power grid held up this time and of course "Dickless" Abbutt had to tell everyone over and over and over. What a clown.

Still of of folks without power but thankfully this is the last night of freezing weather.

I actually read two Charles Dickens books by oil lamp the last two days. Found a way to slow down time - no TV or internet. Pretty nice!! But now lots of work cleaning up limbs from all of our big trees. Luckily no damage to our house.

[Texaswitchy]

2. We had that with Hurricane Ike.

Time slows down.

I had brought solar equipment the fall before for half price.

That came in handy.

Dollar stores have some cheap solar lights for emergency use.

I have my Grandparents old lamp.

Just use lamp oil.

Two weeks without power.

The heat but it was September heat.

[Paladin]

3. I'm sure we'll get Gov. Abbott's apology, just any minute now. (nt)