The National Weather Service is predicting heavy rainfall in the Austin area Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon.

City officials will monitor radar, rainfall data, creek levels, and close low-water crossings that may flood.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local media and weather radios for up to date storm information and make note of the following resources that can help them:

• Emergencies – Dial 9-1-1
• Non-Emergencies– Dial 3-1-1
• Report Flooding – Dial 3-1-1
• Power Outage – (512) 322-9100
• ATXFloods.com – Real-time map of flooded Austin-area roads
• Twitter.com – @austintexasgov; @ATXfloods; @AustinHSEM          
Utilize #ATXfloods for social media updates 
• Facebook.com/DisasterReadyAustin
• DisasterReadyAustin.com and AustinTexas.gov
• Subscribe to regional emergency alerts - Register to receive alerts from the Regional Notification System, which sends alerts during large-scale emergencies and major incidents. Register your cellphone, landline, email address or pager to get alerts by voice call, email or text at wireless.capcog.org. You may also register toll free by calling:  866-484-3264.
• Subscribe to ATXfloods Alerts - For updates via text, email or phone when low water crossings close during storms and when creek conditions are rapidly changing near you. Subscribe for alerts in both English and Spanish at ATXfloods.com/Alerts
• Lost pet information – Twitter: @austinanimals, www.austinanimalcenter.org or Dial 3-1-1

All City of Austin social media resources are listed at: http://www.austintexas.gov/social.

City safety experts also want to remind residents that 75 percent of flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Don’t drive during heavy rainfall. If driving is necessary look for water over the road, avoid low-water crossings, and “Save yourself! Turn Around – Don’t Drown!” if a road is flooded or barricaded.

Keep in mind that during heavy storms it may be difficult to see if a road is flooded. Especially at night. Taking chances and getting a vehicle caught in flood waters not only endangers passengers’ lives, but can also put the lives of first responders at risk.