Austin first responders prepare for Tropical Storm Bill

June 16--Police, medics and firefighters are in high alert as Tropical Storm Bill is expected to bring more heavy downpours to the Austin metro area Tuesday.

The Austin Police Department announced Tuesday afternoon they issued a "city-wide" tactical alert, which means all officers, including patrol and specialized units, have been alerted of the possibility they could be needed in the case of a major incident.

After feeling unprepared for the Memorial Day weekend floods, the Austin Fire Department will temporarily staff an additional 35 extra emergency workers in anticipation for Tropical Storm Bill, Battalion Chief Palmer Buck said.

Buck said 20 of the additional workers will man a fleet of five brush trucks -- a high-platform vehicle -- and five rescue boats. There will also be two extra battalion chiefs on duty and four extra dispatchers working Tuesday night.

Texas Task Force 1 will also provide the fire department nine state emergency workers, Buck said.

Six of the state's first responders will lead two additional rescue boats and three will be operating rescue helicopters in conjunction with the Texas National Guard.

"All these pieces will be on throughout the night because, even with forecasts, we are still unsure when we will feel the major effects of the storm, but we expect it will be between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.," Buck said.

"Our message to our citizens is to get home as quick as you can and don't be on the road after dark when we feel like the brunt of the storm is supposed to happen."

Buck said, Austin Fire Department will have more staff tonight than they had on Memorial Day weekend.

"Today, we are already pre-loaded for the floods," he said.

In the case the sun comes down and flooding begins, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services ambulances and boats will be responding to medical calls.

Two additional ambulances will be added Tuesday night and two more rescue boats will be on-call, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

"We are a very prepared organization. Our people are rested, trained and we have added more staff," said Mikel Kane, special operations division chief at Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Kane said the medical rescue teams will start the night at stations south and southeast of the city but will likely be reassigned as the storm moves into the area.

He said boats would become a key asset for medical emergencies because they can reach tight spaces, such as flooded creeks, when ambulances don't have access.

"With the ground already soaked from the Memorial Day event, these creeks, these lower crossings are going to fill very quickly," Kane said.

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