How freezing rain, tree-lined neighborhoods and above-ground power lines prolonged Austin power outages

Whitney Morrow, guided by a battery-powered light, serves dinner in her home on Monday. The family has been without electricity for nearly a week after a severe ice storm caused power outages across the city. (Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune)

A damaging ice storm swept across Central Texas beginning Jan. 30, plunging much of Austin into darkness for days after causing trees and power lines to fall. Statewide, more than 400,000 Texas electricity customers didn’t have electricity at one point. The state’s capital was the epicenter as more than 170,000 Austin Energy customers were without power at the height of the crisis. And as of Feb. 7, many may have to wait several more days for crews to get them back online.

Austin city officials have faced criticism about fumbled communications. Some residents could end up going more than 10 days without power.