Emergency Preparedness

SOUTHSIDE PLACE WEATHER

Weekly Weather Update

January 26, 2026

winter weather preparedness
science of wind chill

Freeze Warning - Protective Actions


When cold weather occurs, we 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.

How to Locate the Home Water Shut-Off Valve

If you have a water leak or broken pipe in your home, please turn off the water at the main connection.

Identify the Shut-Off Valve Location

Slab foundations have two valves. One is located at the house along the exterior wall on the same side as the water meter or in the garage. The other valve can be found at the water meter by the street. Old pier and beam foundations shutoff valves are in the ground water meter box.

Shut Off the Water

You may need an adjustable wrench or pliers to assist in turning off the valves. Homes will have either a gate or ball valve:

  • Gate valve - common in older homes, gently turn the round handle clockwise (right) until is it completely closed
  • Ball valve - turn the lever 90 degrees (the lever is perpendicular to the pipes when the valve is closed, parallel when the valve is open)

Preventative Measure

Preventative measures to mitigate water leaks and ruptures include wrapping exterior exposed pipes including the back flow preventer and main water connection. When wrapping exterior pipes, remember to wrap the entire length of pipe and, on the back flow preventer, the bell at the top of the pipes. You can insulate the pipes with newspaper, cloth, or purchase covers.

water shut off valves

Heater Safety:

Portable 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.

Know Your Winter Weather Terms


winter weather terms
winter weather terms 2

Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

Prepare your home to keep out the cold with:

  • insulation
  • caulking
  • weather stripping

Other proactive tips:

  • learn how to keep pipes from freezing
  • install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups
  • gather supplies that can last through several days if there's a power outage
  • consider each person's specific needs, including medication
  • if you have pets, think about their needs
  • have extra batteries for radios and flashlights
home winter ready
staying warm

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Weather

Winter weather can affect our homes, our work, and our cars. Keeping a full tank of gas is always a good idea. Also, consider creating an emergency supply kit for your car and include the following items:

  • jumper cables
  • sand
  • flashlight
  • warm clothes
  • blankets
  • bottled water
  • non-perishable snacks

Stay Safe During Winter Weather

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Stay safe with the following tops: 

  • stay off the roads, if possible
  • if you are trapped in your car, then stay inside
  • limit your time outside
  • if you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing
  • reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow and walking in the snow
  • watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and learn how to treat the symptoms
dressing for cold
frostbite
treat
  1. Greater Harris County 911
  2. HCOHSEM
  3. TDEM
  4. FEMA - Texas/Region 6
  5. Texas 211

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.