North Texas residents are being urged to get ready for winter weather hazards that can quickly turn routine days into power outages, burst pipes and dangerous road conditions.
Safety guidance from the National Weather Service, the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management and TxDOT emphasizes planning ahead, stocking supplies, and avoiding travel when roads turn icy.
Step by step: what to do at home
1) Get three days of basics now
Water, non-perishable food, medications, batteries or power banks, and a flashlight.
2) Protect pipes before temperatures drop
Wrap exposed pipes, drip faucets if needed, and block drafts around doors and windows to help hold heat inside.
3) Make heating safer, not riskier
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Use space heaters carefully and keep emergency heat sources properly ventilated. Never run a generator in an enclosed space.
4) Plan for a power outage
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible, and have a way to receive warnings if internet or power goes out, such as a NOAA Weather Radio.
Step by step: what to do for your car and the road
1) Winterize your vehicle before you need it
Check fluids, wipers, lights and heater. Keep your gas tank near full.
2) Build a winter car kit today
Blankets, flashlight and batteries, phone charger, first aid kit, water, high-calorie snacks, scraper and brush, basic tools, tow strap, and sand or cat litter for traction.
3) If roads get icy, TxDOT says slow down and space out
Increase following distance, use extra caution on bridges and overpasses, and steer into a skid if your vehicle starts to slide.
4) Check road conditions before you go
TxDOT points drivers to DriveTexas and its road condition phone line for current conditions and closures.