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Emergency Preparedness
Freeze Warning - Protective Actions
When cold weather occurs, Houstonians should remember to protect the Four 'P's:
People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.
People
- Dress in warm, layered clothing, including gloves, a coat, and a hat when you are outside.
- Never leave children or the elderly in vehicles during cold weather, as they can act as refrigerators and expose anyone inside to sub-freezing temperatures.
- Never use a generator, grill, camp-stove, or any gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device to heat your home (or any enclosed area.) These devices can generate carbon monoxide, which cannot be seen or smelled, but is deadly.
Pets
- Protect your pets by ensuring that they have a warm, safe place to sleep. The best place for a pet to sleep is in a heated environment.
- Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter. A longer coat provides more warmth.
- Never leave your animal in a car during cold weather. Cars can act as refrigerators in the winter, holding in the cold and causing animals to freeze to death.
- For more cold-weather tips for pets, visit the ASPA's 'Cold Weather Safety Tips' webpage.
Pipes
- During cold weather, pipes may freeze and rupture, causing water leaks and damage to your home. Protect your home by opening the cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow air from your home's heater to warm the pipes under the sink. Let faucets drip, as moving water freezes more slowly than still water.
- Insulate outdoor faucets and pipes with insulation or newspaper, and be sure to disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor spigots.
- Shut off and drain your irrigation system now. Not sure how to shut off your irrigation system? Click here to view a video.
Plants
- Protect plants from freezing by covering them with plant-covering fabric, or a light blanket with plastic sheeting on top of it.
- Bring in potted plants or group them together, near the edge of a building. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze, even if the above-surface leafs survive.
Heater Safety:
Prortable space heaters are often used to heat rooms and homes. If not used properly, they can cause fires, severe injuries, and death. If using a portable heater, remember these important safety tips:
- Keep heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn including furniture, carpets, curtains, and people.
- Place heaters on solid, non-flammable surfaces.
- Never block exits with a heater and keep them out of the way of foot traffic.
- Keep children away from heaters.
- Always plug heaters directly into wall outlets - NEVER use an extension cord.
- Turn off and unplug space heaters when leaving a room or going to bed.
Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.
Where you can learn more:
Notice to Customer Regarding Extreme Weather Emergency
Where you can learn more:
- Forecasts: National Weather Service Houston-Galveston
- Winter Weather Safety: National Weather Service
- Local Road Conditions: Houston TranStar
- State Road Conditions: Drive Texas
- Space Heater Safety: National Fire Protection Association
Notice to Customer Regarding Extreme Weather Emergency
Greater Harris County 9-1-1
For 30 years GHC 9-1-1 has made it its mission to ensure that anyone, at anytime, in any place, using any device shall be able to reach emergency services. This year they are rolling out the new Emergency Notification System (ENS.) This is a voluntary alert system that will notify residents of events that could threaten lives, property, or could be dangerous. Previously, only landlines were eligible to receive notifications, but with the new ENS cell and Internet phones can now be contacted. For more information or to register, click on the link below to visit the GHC 9-1-1 home page.Texas 2-1-1
2-1-1 Texas is a free help line answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 2-1-1 Texas is connected to nearly every service in the state, including government agencies, food pantries, career services, after-school programs, counseling services and many other state and local resources. During any statewide disaster response, a special Option Number 4 is activated to point callers directly to disaster-related information. When Option Number 4 is activated for disaster response, that is the first option that the caller hears.
For more information on Texas 2-1-1, visit the Texas 2-1-1 website.
Texas Divison of Emergency Management
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) coordinates the state emergency management program, which is intended to ensure the state and its local governments respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters, and implement plans and programs to help prevent or lessen the impact of emergencies and disasters.
TDEM implements programs to increase public awareness about threats and hazards, coordinates emergency planning, provides an extensive array of specialized training for emergency responders and local officials, and administers disaster recovery and hazard mitigation programs in the State of Texas.
For more information, visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website.
Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The City of Southside Place actively works with the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help prepare, safeguard and protect the residents and property of Southside Place from the effects of disasters through effective planning, preparation, response and recovery activities.
Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The Regional Joint Information Center (JIC) is your best source fore timely and accurate information when emergency conditions exist in the greater Harris County area. Please visit their site for more information on how to prepare for any event.
Regional Joint Information Center
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Police Department
Physical Address
6309 Edloe Street
Houston, TX 77005
Phone: : 713-668-2341Emergency Phone: : 911