AUSTIN (KXAN) – With Arctic Air forecast to arrive Thursday afternoon, here are some tips for preparing ahead of time.
Stay up to date with alerts
Warning to Central Texas will send emails, texts or calls with emergency alerts from the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG). They are similar to the reverse 9-1-1 calls received by people with landlines, which include evacuation advisories, shelter information, boil water advisories, and extended power outages. People can sign up for emergency alerts on the Warn Central Texas website.
The KXAN First Warning Weather Team will also be working around the clock to provide you with up-to-date weather coverage of this storm. Sign up for our daily forecast newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters. Download the KXAN Weather app for the latest weather forecast and push alerts: Apple | Android
As part of the county’s ‘Prepare Travis County’ initiative, leaders also recommended connecting with utility providers prior to a winter weather event. That includes making sure all of your contact and address information is up to date, jotting down important phone numbers, following your utility companies on social media, and signing up for alerts.
Wind chill and severe frost warnings issued
build a team
An emergency kit should include several days’ worth of food and water, along with tools in case the power goes out. Here are some items that should be included:
Food and water for several days Pet food and supplies First aid kit Flashlight and phone chargers in case of power outage Prescription drugs and glasses
prepare your home
Leave your heat and water on to ensure it continues to work when you need it to.
Keep your faucets dripping to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting
Keep cabinet doors open so hot air can keep pipes warm.
If you are one of the hundreds, not thousands, of Texans who have recently purchased a home generator, make sure it is placed in a safe place. outside and away from home. If you place it indoors, or too close to an air vent, it can cause gases and exhaust to enter your home.
Texas leaders say ‘grid is ready and reliable’ for impending cold conditions
Make a plan
It’s good to talk with your family about how to respond, stay informed and communicate with each other during emergency situations where power, water or emergency services may not be available, according to the readycentraltexas.org website.
A family plan should include:
A designated place to meet if you are separated outside or near your home. A plan for communicating if you can’t meet or get separated during a crisis. Public safety phone numbers (ie police, fire, and hospital) for your area. area contact to communicate that you are safe and know the status of other family members
bring your pets
Younger pets, such as puppies and kittens, as well as older pets can develop mild symptoms of hypothermia in temperatures in the 50s, explains Dr. Samuel Morehead, owner of Leander Veterinary Clinic.
Even healthy pets, if they spend most of their lives indoors, can be susceptible to hypothermia.
Texas law requires animal owners to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter. When the temperature drops, the Austin Animal Services Office said that pets that are outdoors should be brought inside if possible. If they can’t get in, they should have shelter such as a doghouse or shed with blankets or straw inside.
If you see an animal that you suspect has been left out in the cold and you can’t talk to the owner about it first, the SPCA says you should contact your local police or animal control. In Austin, the recommended first step is to call 3-1-1.
other tips
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said that working smoke detectors They are essential in every home. It is also important to ensure that all batteries are changed in advance.
If you have one, take a professional look at your home and clean it every year. Keep flammable materials away from the fire and do not burn garbage or cardboard boxes in it.
Never use your oven or stove as a heat source.
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as a furnace, fireplace, wood stove or space heater, the NFPA said.
Cover your plants: You can use blankets, throws, and even sheets to cover them, but the key is to create a space between the cover and the plant itself. In empty spaces, the air will remain warmer, which will help protect your plant.
Source: news.google.com