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AlertHouston | Freezing Temperatures Expected Wednesday Night
DATE: January 6, 2015 12:20:55 PM CST
Protect the 4 PsThe National Weather Service expects below-freezing temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents, and proper care should be taken to reduce exposure to these conditions.
When cold weather occurs, Houstonians should remember to protect People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.
People
Dress in warm clothing, wear gloves, coats and layers when you're outside.
Never leave children or the elderly in vehicles during cold weather, as they can act as refrigerators and expose anyone inside to sub-freezing temperatures.
Never use a generator, grill, camp-stove or any gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device to heat your home (or any enclosed area). These devices can generate carbon monoxide, which can't be seen or smelled, but is deadly. Download the Houston Fire Department Fire Prevention & Life Safety Guidebook for more safety tips.
Pets
Protect your pets by ensuring that they have a warm, safe place to sleep. The best place for a pet is to sleep in a heated environment.
Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.
Never leave your
animal in a car during cold weather. Cars can act as refrigerators in the winter, holding in the cold and causing animals to freeze to death.
Capturing animals during extreme weather conditions is against City ordinance.
For more cold-weather tips for pets, visit the page in the following link from the ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care- ... -tips.aspx
Pipes
During cold weather, particularly when temperatures reach the mid to low 20s, pipes may freeze, causing water leaks and damage to your home. Protect your home by opening the cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow air from your home's heater to warm the pipes under the sink.
Contrary to popular belief - do not let sinks or faucets run to prevent them from freezing, this can impact the water pressure across the system, including that used by fire hydrants.
Insulate outdoor faucets and pipes with insulation or newspaper, and be sure to disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor spigots.
Remember to protect and/or drain your sprinkler systems and garden hoses by shutting them off.
Plants
Protect plants from freezing by covering them with plant-cover fabric, or a light blanket with plastic sheeting on top of it.
Be sure to group potted plants together, and near the edge of a building. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze, even if the above-surface leaves survive.
For more information on what you can do to protect you and your family from the dangers of cold weather, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/emergency .
For up-to-date weather information, visit the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston forecast office website at http://www.weather.gov/houston .
