BoogyMan
01-08-2007, 02:14 PM
SOURCE: Link Here (http://kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=5904817)
Several blocks of Congress Avenue have been closed off to traffic because a large number of dead birds -- reportedly as many as several dozen -- have been found in the area. And if you work in the area, you're being asked to stay home from work until at least noon.
Congress Avenue and one block on either side of the street is shut down from Cesar Chavez to 11th Street until approximately noon. That's because an unusually large number of dead birds were found Monday morning, with most of them concentrated on 9th Street.
The birds are now being collected by workers in hazardous-materials suits and will be sent to another agency for further testing to try to find out why they died.
"What they are doing is going into the area where the birds are located and gathering additional samples, both from the birds and anything else they can find in that area," said Mike Frick with the Austin Fire Department.
The fire department was called out to the area around 3 a.m. on Monday to test if there had been a gas or chlorine leak, but nothing of that nature was found. However, further precautionary testing is ongoing, and fire officials are requesting that individuals that work in this area not to come in until further notice.
"What the police department has done at this time is shut down Congress [Avenue] at First/Cesar Chavez, as well as one block on either side. We are asking people that work in the area not to come in, because they are not allowed in the area," said Toni Chovanetz with the Austin Police Department.
Several different groups are on the scene, including APD, AFD and the 6th Civil Support Team. That team supports local first-responders and helps determine the nature of an emergency situation.
More info from another source.
SOURCE: Link Here (http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=62008)
Austin police have a troubling mystery on their hands. They've closed off most of Congress Avenue for the morning downtown -- along with all side streets between Colorado and Brazos streets. That's after dozens of birds were found dead in the area. The several dozen dead birds were found along Congress between Sixth and Eighth streets overnight. Congress Avenue is closed from Cesar Chavez on the south to Eleventh Street on the north in front of the Capitol. A police spokeswoman says the area is expected to remain closed until about noon.
People who work in the closed-off area have been advised to delay coming to work until after fire crews conduct precautionary testing of the area and declare an all-clear.
Several blocks of Congress Avenue have been closed off to traffic because a large number of dead birds -- reportedly as many as several dozen -- have been found in the area. And if you work in the area, you're being asked to stay home from work until at least noon.
Congress Avenue and one block on either side of the street is shut down from Cesar Chavez to 11th Street until approximately noon. That's because an unusually large number of dead birds were found Monday morning, with most of them concentrated on 9th Street.
The birds are now being collected by workers in hazardous-materials suits and will be sent to another agency for further testing to try to find out why they died.
"What they are doing is going into the area where the birds are located and gathering additional samples, both from the birds and anything else they can find in that area," said Mike Frick with the Austin Fire Department.
The fire department was called out to the area around 3 a.m. on Monday to test if there had been a gas or chlorine leak, but nothing of that nature was found. However, further precautionary testing is ongoing, and fire officials are requesting that individuals that work in this area not to come in until further notice.
"What the police department has done at this time is shut down Congress [Avenue] at First/Cesar Chavez, as well as one block on either side. We are asking people that work in the area not to come in, because they are not allowed in the area," said Toni Chovanetz with the Austin Police Department.
Several different groups are on the scene, including APD, AFD and the 6th Civil Support Team. That team supports local first-responders and helps determine the nature of an emergency situation.
More info from another source.
SOURCE: Link Here (http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=62008)
Austin police have a troubling mystery on their hands. They've closed off most of Congress Avenue for the morning downtown -- along with all side streets between Colorado and Brazos streets. That's after dozens of birds were found dead in the area. The several dozen dead birds were found along Congress between Sixth and Eighth streets overnight. Congress Avenue is closed from Cesar Chavez on the south to Eleventh Street on the north in front of the Capitol. A police spokeswoman says the area is expected to remain closed until about noon.
People who work in the closed-off area have been advised to delay coming to work until after fire crews conduct precautionary testing of the area and declare an all-clear.