FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01-18-2019
Harris County Offers Winter Weather Safety Tips
(Houston, Texas) -- While not known for winter weather, Southeast Texas does experience its share of freezing temperatures. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) offers tips for staying safe this winter.
Vehicle safety tips to observe during winter weather:
- Fully check and winterize your vehicle.
- Keep your gas tank full.
- Have tire pressure checked.
- Have a phone charger, first aid kit, blankets and jumper cables in your car.
- Check local road conditions at www.houstontranstar.org. State highway information available at www.drivetexas.org.
Remember to protect people, pets, pipes and plants
- People
- Dress in warm clothing. Wear coats and gloves when outdoors.
- Protect children and the elderly. Never leave them in a cold place or vehicle.
- Pets
- Bring your pets indoors.
- Provide a warm, safe place for them to eat and sleep.
- Pipes
- Prevent frozen pipes and damage to your home by opening the cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warm air to circulate and warm the pipes.
- Let the faucets drip. Moving water freezes slower than still water.
- Insulate outdoor faucets and exposed pipes and be sure to disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor spigots.
- 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 plants that are in containers together, and near your home. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze.
Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never using generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.
Stay informed! Monitor the local forecast at www.weather.gov/hgx. Sign up to receive Harris County emergency alerts at www.ReadyHarris.org and follow ReadyHarris on social media.
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