BY APRIL KELLEY
The impact
What’s next?
Local business owner Melissa Takamatsu, who owns Epps Body & Paint in Bee Cave and Lawson’s Tire & Automotive in Austin, said Winter Storm Uri caused the pipes to burst at her Austin business. The water had been turned o, but remaining water in the pipes caused them to burst, Takamatsu said. One of the mechanics at the shop was able to x the pipes because they were exposed, she said. “Otherwise it probably would have cost a couple thousand dollars,” she said. Winter Storms Uri and Mara had a signicant nancial impact on the three cities, some of which has been reimbursed via public assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, Yousofzoy said. Yousofzoy said establishing an emergency man- agement coordinator role for the cities strategically reduces emergency costs. “The EMC optimizes resource allocation, direct- ing personnel and supplies eciently to minimize waste,” she said. “Comprehensive preparedness and
planning prevent damages, expedite decision-mak- ing and reduce incident duration, eectively minimizing overall costs.” Yousofzoy said proactive risk assessment and mitigation contribute to nancial savings by averting or lessening emergency impacts, and community outreach enhances resilience, which could potentially reduce emergency service demand and nancial burdens.
Yousofzoy said the cities are trying to be even more prepared in the future. An overnight warming center is in the works to be used as needed in emergency situations, Yousofzoy said. Lakeway Church will be used as the warming center and overnight shelter during future emergencies, she said.
Winter Storm Mara breakdown
Cost
Reimbursed
$1,891,619.58
Lakeway
$1,418,714.70
FUTURE WARMING CENTER
$844,549.73
RETAMA COURT
N
Bee Cave
$633,412.30
SOURCES: CITY OF BEE CAVE, CITY OF LAKEWAYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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