“Hunting for warm places to go”: Austinites cope as outages linger

On day three without power, Justin Havird and Vernon, 2, build with Lego bricks at the Austin Central Library on Saturday. (Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune)

AUSTIN — Haggard families looking for a distraction from still-dark homes found refuge Saturday morning at the Central Library downtown, where Jennifer Parker and Justin Havird watched their two small children playing with Legos and crayons in the welcoming warmth.

Arlo and Vernon, ages 5 and 2, had been without electricity in their Austin home for three days, leaving their frazzled parents searching for an escape.