The setup
Austin officials voted in 2021 to begin exploring the creation of a series of "resilience hubs" around the city that could serve as community shelters and resource centers during emergencies. Existing public spaces like libraries, schools and recreation centers were targeted as hub locations, with existing infrastructure or upgrades that'd allow the facilities to operate even if faced with utility outages or other disruptions.
In collaboration with various community organizations and other local entities like Travis County and Austin ISD, the city's resilience hub concept has now been developing for a few years. The pilot initially involved six city facilities in East and North Central Austin tapped to serve as hubs, with surrounding neighborhoods identified as focus areas during the process, before expanding with two additional sites.
Most facilities involved in the pilot are now stocked with emergency supplies and received funding for new backup power infrastructure.
What's happening
Moving on from the pilot, the program has grown and is now known as the Austin Resilience Network. It includes various government and community resources meant to help Austinites prepare for and weather future disasters or local emergencies.
The network's creation was informed by work conducted during the recent pilot, which involved more than 30 local organizations, according to the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.
“This expansion aims to build community resilience while accounting for the complex conditions presented during a disaster. The ARN will allow for a flexible, scalable community-based approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery," Bill Wilson, Austin's interim emergency management director, said in a statement.
The new network is designed to be more flexible and now involves further community relationships and resource sharing beyond set physical locations—although individual hub sites will still be supported.
Austin's emergency management office also has a newly formed team—the Mass Care Section—that'll oversee shelters and volunteers, handle food and water distribution, and implement the overall resource network. Through the network, partner organizations can get in touch with local emergency managers when needs arise to help with communications and coordination with the city.
"By leveraging nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations that serve the entire city, the Austin Resilience Network can be a force multiplier for resources during emergencies," the office said in a statement.
Get involved
Local groups interested in serving as a community resource through the network can apply online.
