The freezing temperature has made its way to Texas and while the National Weather Service doesn’t expect it to be as severe as last year’s February freeze, homeowners are still worried especially for those who lost their homes during the 2021 deep freeze. Texans are no stranger to preparing hurricane kits and so experts recommend that homeowners should also prepare for the winter season even if we’re not expecting a deep freeze in Houston. The winter storm has been predicted to be milder than last year’s, but preparing for the next winter storm should be everyone’s priority. As a homeowner, there are things that you can do before the winter to protect your home and your loved ones.
Here’s what you can do right now to prepare for the next winter weather event…
Check, Prepare and Protect your Houston Home before the next Winter Storm
1. Get your house winter-ready
You need to keep an eye on and protect your water pipes before the winter. While freezing pipes don’t happen overnight in some areas in Houston, it is still best to prepare in order to avoid expensive plumbing repairs. Insulating or wrapping your pipes with cloth or pipe sleeves is one of the simple ways to prevent freezing or bursting pipes. Moreover, make sure you let your faucets drip to keep water flowing through pipes while outside hoses must be disconnected, drained, and stored properly. Another tip is to fill your bathtubs with water so you’ll have water to use in case the water goes out. Don’t forget to change the batteries in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors in your home to protect everyone from carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Check for potential hazards outside your home
Check your roof and gutters as the weight of the snow might damage your roof and water build-up could seep inside your house. Don’t forget to clean your gutters from leaves and debris so melting snow can flow easily. Bring potted indoor plants inside or store them in your garage and make sure to close your garage doors to protect whatever you’ve stored inside. Fundamentally, remove any damaged or dangerous tree branches to avoid physical damage to your house or injure someone near your property.
3. Stock up on the essentials
There might be power outages in your area and so here are the essentials that you need to prepare – non-perishable food (e.g. canned foods, pantry snacks, nut butters), can opener, flashlights and batteries, bottled water (good for 7 days), first aid kit (alcohol wipes, bandages, burn cream, thermometer, antihistamine, antibiotic cream, etc), medication supply, warm clothing and blankets, battery-powered radio, portable mobile phone chargers, and cash. Don’t forget to prepare a compact emergency kit on your car as well like bottled water, non-perishable snacks, warm clothes and blankets, flashlights and batteries, jumper cables, first-aid kit, and ice scraper to name a few.
4. Protect your Pets
Our pets are also part of our family and so they need the same protection from the winter weather. Make sure your pets and other animals are under sheltered areas of your property and heated properly with adequate food and water.
5. Keep your loved ones safe
Protect your loved ones by providing a safe structure with adequate heating throughout the winter weather. Heaters must be placed on solid, non-flammable surfaces and away from anything that can burn like carpets, wood furniture, curtains, as well as away from children. Practice fire safety when using extension cords. Check extension cords for the capacity to avoid overloading, overheating, and damage to any plugged appliance. Extension cords are meant to be used temporarily and so be aware that there are appliances like heaters that should be directly plugged into wall outlets and not on extension cords. Finally, make sure that your house’s exits are clear and never blocked in case there’s an emergency that needs evacuation.
National Weather Service: How to Winterize Your Home
Texas Standard: Winter Preparedness Checklist
Winter Emergency Resources
Preparing your home to withstand the extreme cold and minimize potential damage is a must. It’s the first step to getting your house ready for the next winter storm and ensuring that you have a place to protect your loved ones and important possession.
Lastly, see to it that you have a list of local emergency alert services and numbers for Houston, Texas homeowners:
Ready.gov – disaster preparedness plan and resources
Texas A&M – severe weather resources and more links
National Weather Service – weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, warnings & safety tips
AlertHouston – Timely information during emergencies
Texas Animal Health Commission – resources to help you prepare for winter storm events
American Red Cross: Winter Storm Preparedness Information
Texas Water Development Board: Real-time weather data
Texas Roadside Assistance 1-800-525-5555
Texas Department of Transportation: 1-800-452-9292
Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Roadside Assistance 1-800-525-5555
Texas Department of Insurance: Insurance claim filing helpline phone number 1-800-252-3439
Houston Winter Storm Resources – FAQs and resources for those in need during the February winter storm
The Houston Food Bank – Volunteer or Donate or call 713-547-8604
About ApexPro Real Estate
ApexPro Real Estate Group is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in single-family and attached residential properties throughout Houston and the surrounding areas. We are a privately-held small business that brings together top agents, cutting-edge technology, and unparalleled service to help clients throughout Houston to buy and sell real estate — and enjoy themselves every step along the way. Our client reviews exhibit our dedication to helping our clients extends beyond the closing table and we would love to earn your business.