BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Preparing for the Houston Holiday Freeze

Posted by The Buzz | December 20, 2022

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

Houston is in for another hard freeze next week, with lows on Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 15-16) likely to drop into the upper teens to mid-20s. Preparing early can help keep your family and home safe and warm.

As you’ve likely heard by now, a historic freeze is expected to hit Houston starting Thursday evening. Lows are projected to reach 15-20 degrees by Friday, with high winds throughout the day. See Space City Weather for details regarding the weather, including a breakdown of the timeline. We’re all hoping we don’t see a repeat of the Feb. 2021 crisis, but there are steps we should all be taking to prepare in advance. Note: According to Space City Weather, reports don't indicate any impactful precipitation at this time; the roads should remain safe and dry for holiday travel this weekend.

Four Ps for cold weather:

Keep the “Four Ps” in mind:
1. People: Keep warm; stay inside if possible.
2. Pets: Bring pets inside and be sure to have adequate food/water available.
3. Pipes: Wrap exposed faucets and pipes, including those outside the house or in attics, garages, etc. Remove garden hoses connected to outside faucets. Turn off sprinkler systems. Heading out of town for the holiday? Be sure to shut off the main water supply and drain pipes to prevent damage should they burst.
4. Plants: Bring potted plants inside or store in garage to provide warm and protection from wind. For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and cover with a cloth fabric to protect plants from wind and frost.

What to have on hand:

Supplies include:

non-perishable foods
bottled waters
medication (prescription and over-the-counter), first-aid kit
flashlights and batteries
portable charger
candles, matches
manual can opener
hand sanitizer
sleeping bags

Weather Tracking Resources:

Sign up for Alert Houston to receive timely information during weather emergencies. You can register for alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notifications, and most alerts are geo-targeted. If you live in one of the following neighborhoods, you can also sign up for area specific alert systems to get the most locally-relevant information: Bellaire, West U, Memorial Villages.

Check Centerpoint Energy for any power outage updates.

Space City Weather provides updated information without hype.

More Safety Tips:

Find safety tips for winter weather, including safely using space heaters, from Houston OEM. Reminder to keep generators outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents to avoid accidental CO poisoning.

Hitting the road for the holidays? Use precaution and check weather and road conditions in advance. Have an emergency kit on hand for the car. Find a list here.

Wishing you all a safe, warm, and happy holiday!