Severe weather has left a significant mark on Austin, with 72,500 customers losing power during the recent storm, marking it as the third worst outage in the city's history, following winter storms Mara and Yuri. As of 10 AM, Austin Energy reported that over 93% of customers had their power restored, but approximately 38,000 remain without electricity.

The storm's aftermath has revealed extensive damage, including 104 broken utility poles, with crews still assessing the situation, indicating that the number could rise. Restoration efforts are expected to take multiple days due to the severity of the damage, which includes uprooted trees and downed power lines. Austin Energy is currently in the first phase of its restoration plan, focusing on critical facilities like hospitals and emergency services before addressing larger outages affecting the most customers.

To expedite recovery, Austin Energy has called for mutual aid from neighboring utilities, with over 200 additional crew members arriving to assist with repairs and tree trimming. The utility emphasizes safety, urging residents to avoid trimming trees near power lines and to report downed lines immediately.

As the community grapples with the challenges of prolonged outages, Austin Energy reassures customers that all available resources are being utilized to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Regular updates will be provided through social media and the utility's website, as crews work tirelessly to bring the remaining customers back online.