City of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy each issued a pre-emptive disaster declaration on Thursday morning in response to Governor Greg Abbott doing so at the state level on Wednesday. With no measurable rain in more than 40 days, Austin and Travis County are at severe risk of wildfires spreading.

“Austin ranks sixth in the nation for number of homes at risk of wildfire,” Watson said. “With that in mind, and taking into consideration the heightened risk we face due to dry conditions, I am hereby declaring The City of Austin to be in a state of disaster for wildfires. This will allow our public safety staff to begin tracking expenses accrued and expedite the reimbursement from the federal or state government in the event a wildfire should occur during this declaration.”

Declaring a disaster pre-emptively is common for other natural disasters like hurricanes to allow governments to begin implementing mitigation efforts and organize behind the scenes to prepare for the response and recovery phases should a disaster occur. The early declaration makes tracking resources and personnel used in mitigation, response, and recovery efforts easier and fast-tracks the reimbursement request process from state and federal agencies.

With a large number of travelers expected in the Austin area this weekend for multiple sporting events, Austin’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Interim Director Bill Wilson emphasizes the importance of taking precautions to prevent wildfires from sparking.

“Wildfires can spread very quickly,” Wilson said. “The last thing we want to see is a wildfire spread at a large venue where thousands of people are gathered to have a good time. The dry conditions we are experiencing make this a particularly dangerous time. More than 90% of wildfires are manmade. Please take this threat seriously and do what is necessary to prevent a wildfire from sparking.”

What Can You Do to Prevent Wildfire?

The City and County ask all community members to be extra cautious during this heightened risk of wildfire and take measures to ensure they do not spark a wildfire.  

• Do not park or drive vehicles on dry, tall grass or on the should of roadways.
• Do not throw cigarette butts out car windows. Always properly dispose of smoking paraphernalia.  
• When towing a trailer, ensure tow chains are properly secured and not left hanging low enough to drag on the pavement. This could cause sparks and ignite a wildfire.
• If cooking outdoors, only use smokers and grills on hard, flat surfaces like concrete or pavement. Do not use charcoal grills or smokers in windy conditions.
• The Parks and Recreation Department has issued a Parks Burning Restriction to ensure the safety of park patrons and surrounding communities, while minimizing the wildfire risk in the City’s parks, greenbelts, and preserves. The burning restriction prohibits the building of fires and grilling in all City of Austin parks, greenbelts and preserves. 

How Can You Protect Your Home?

There are a number of actions you can take to lower your home’s risk of wildfire.

• Clean out your gutters of any leaves or other debris.
• Clear dried leaves and vegetation within 5 feet of your home. This is called a “defensible space”.
• Trim tree limbs to at least 10 feet from your home.
• Keep flammable furniture and other items away from your home or move them indoors to a garage or storage shed.
• Request a free Structural Ignition Zone Evaluation (SIZE) from the Austin Fire Department. During a SIZE, a trained wildfire advisor will walk the exterior of your home with you to offer guidance about how to strengthen the residence against wildfire. The advisor also discusses evacuation and preparatory actions to take when conditions are favorable for wildfires. Assessments are confidential.

What Else Can You Do?

If you live in an area at risk of wildfire, be sure to register to receive alert messages from WarnCentralTexas.org. When you register, select Wildfire as one of the options you wish to be alerted for. The system can send alerts via voice call, text, and email.  

Make a Plan. The first two steps of emergency preparedness are crucial in the event of a wildfire. Knowing what you need to do and ensuring everyone in your home knows as well can be key to staying calm in a disaster. Know more than one way to get out of your home and your neighborhood should one of the routes be blocked or inaccessible.  

Build a Kit. The second step of emergency preparedness ensures you have the essentials needed to survive away from your home should you need to evacuate. Have food and a gallon of water per person per day on-hand to take with you. Be sure to include prescription meds for all people and pets in your emergency supplies kit.  

Download a copy of the Ready, Set, Go! Personal Wildfire Action Guide from the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition. This guide has tips on how to protect your home by creating multiple levels of defensible space and creating a plan for your home in the event of a wildfire. The guide is available in English and Spanish.  

You can also learn more about wildfire prevention and safety tips from the Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division’s Wildfire Hub.  

What Happens in an Evacuation?

If you are ordered to evacuate either through an alert message or directly from first responders on-scene of an active wildfire, follow those instructions. Grab your emergency supplies kit, account for all individuals and pets in your home, and leave immediately.  

Follow instructions on where to go for an evacuation. If you are in the City of Austin, you will receive instructions to go to a Temporary Assembly Point, or TAP. The purpose of the TAP is to help first responders account for all households in the evacuation zone. Once at the TAP, you will be asked to provide your status and whether or not you have a safe place to go, i.e. a friend or relative.  

It is imperative that all evacuees check in with the Temporary Assembly Point. Not doing so can put the lives of first responders at further risk by diverting their efforts to rescuing people from homes that are already evacuated. This process allows for a more accurate account of which individuals still need assistance or help seeking a safe place to stay.

You can learn more about wildfire preparedness at ReadyCentralTexas.gov.