North Central Austin Edition | July 2023

ENVIRONMENT Community responds as temperatures soar

HEAT-RELATED CALLS ON THE RISE

The United Way for Greater Austin has seen an increase in the number of heat-related calls to 211 seeking assistance. The number of heat-related 911 calls Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services has responded to has increased consistently over the past three years. United Way for Greater Austin service area 211 calls (non emergency)

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Medical Services public information ocer and captain. “We actually broke our all-time record for heat-related calls in the month of June as of June 29,” Stedman said, explaining ATCEMS responded to 174 calls through June. In June 2022—which was the previous record—ATCEMS had 159 total calls, Stedman said. ATCEMS responded to 125 calls in June 2021. Ashley Pierce, United Way chief marketing ocer, said the organi- zation had responded to nearly 100 heat-related calls to 211—a nonemer- gency line—as of the end of June. “Most of the needs are people seeking resources regarding cooling centers, air conditioners and fans,” Pierce said. Virginia Larson, team lead for Family Eldercare—an organization that gives free fans to those in need—said nearly 4,000 fans had already been distributed this year as of the last week of June. The organization distributed 7,200 fans in total in 2022.

Record-breaking heat has taken over Central Texas this summer, and weather experts predict this will con- tinue through at least September. As a result, ocials are oering residents resources to manage the heat. The National Weather Service issued the rst heat advisory of the year for Central Texas on June 13, and the area has been under a heat advisory most days since then. According to the NWS, the region reached a record heat index value of 118 degrees June 21, and experts sug- gested the future will be lled with an increasing number of heat waves. John Moore, a meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conrmed Central Texas has a 50%-60% probability of experiencing above-average tempera- tures well into September. The hotter-than-normal tem- peratures for Central Texas were also conrmed by Christa Stedman, Austin-Travis County Emergency

10 20 30 40 80 0 June 2021

June 2022

June 2023

Travis County

Williamson County

Hays County

Austin-Travis County EMS 911 calls

50 100 150 200 0

June 2021

June 2022

June 2023

SOURCE: AUSTINTRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

DMV DMV DMV ADDRESS: 1234 Sesame 34 Sesa St t r eet DMV ADDRESS: 1234 Sesame Street 123 Main Street 123 Main Street State law requires the Mobility Authority to use the address on file with Department of Motor Vehicles registration records. The Mobility Authority mails all bills and late notices via First-Class Mail as required by law. First-Class Mail is assumed delivered if not returned.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE Mobility Authority

Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.

The Mobility Authority is not the only toll operator

Late payment fees do apply

The Mobility Authority is not TxTag

We accept a variety of electronic tags

There’s a reason you might get a bill in the mail even if you have an electronic tag

There are payment options everywhere

Keep your electronic tag account in good standing

We use your address on file with the DMV for bills

Learn what to do when you sell your car

Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP

To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/tolling101.

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