NOTICE: All HCPL locations are closed on Monday, January 26.
For the past couple of years, every late January or early February. Houstonians can expect a day (If we’re lucky) or two of freezing temperatures or even snow, where your home's landscaping dies and traffic all over town comes to a complete halt.
This year again, we’re amidst another historic winter storm where the whole state, if not half the country, is frozen. Our local emergency preparedness office, readyharris.org has asked residents to prepare and stay home.
Here’s our annual reminder on how to prepare for a Houston-style freeze!
Preparing for a Freeze: Quick Prep That Makes a Big Difference
Wrap your outdoor pipes.
Exposed pipes can freeze and burst quickly. Pipe insulation, towels, or even old t-shirts can help prevent costly damage.
Cover your plants.
Use sheets, blankets, or frost cloths (not plastic touching the leaves). Even a single night of freezing temps can kill sensitive plants like grasses, ferns, and small bushes.
Plug drafty areas near doors or windows.
Towels, door snakes, or rolled blankets can block cold air and help keep your home warmer without cranking the heat.
Fill a tub with water to flush toilets in case the water goes out.
It is also a good idea to fill a few jugs for drinking and cooking.
Charge up all your devices ahead of time.
Phones, tablets, battery packs, flashlights, lanterns, radios—charge now so you’re not scrambling later.
Have offline entertainment ready.
Reading books, playing board games, solving puzzles, or watching downloaded movies can save your sanity if the power or internet goes out.
If you’re out of town:
Ask a neighbor or family member to open the cabinets under the sinks and let the faucets drip slowly to keep the pipes from freezing while you’re away.
During the freeze: Stay Warm & Use Energy Wisely
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Heat only the area you're in.
Consider using a space heater in the main room everyone is in instead of turning up the heat for the whole home to conserve energy.
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Wear more clothes and use extra blankets at night.
Extra clothes, socks, hats, and blankets go a long way toward reducing strain on the power grid.
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Know where your main water shutoff is!
If a pipe bursts, quickly shutting off the water can prevent major damage. Now is not the time to guess; most water shut-off valves are outside the home.
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If the power goes out:
You might need to dig up your camp cooking gear or charcoal grill to cook up anything you don’t want to waste from your fridge or freezer. Just remember to only use these items OUTSIDE you home, away from any overhanging structures.
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Check on your neighbors and family.
Especially seniors, people with disabilities, or anyone living alone. A quick call or text can make a big difference
Don’ts:
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Don't turn your heat wayyyy up.
Keep your thermostat around the high 60s or low 70s while you are awake, and lower in the evening, depending on how well your home is insulated. -
Never use an oven or stove burners for heating
This is an extreme fire hazard. It also risks deadly carbon monoxide poisoning (especially with gas models), pollutes indoor air with nitrogen oxides, wastes energy, and may damage the appliance. -
Don't go out on the roads if you can avoid it.
Our roads and drivers aren’t built for icy conditions, and so if you must leave your home, avoid overpasses and go below the speed limit. -
Don't use your generator inside the house.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is very likely if you use generators or charcoal grills indoors, including garages. These spaces do not offer enough airflow to operate these appliances, and fumes will build up. -
Don't overstock your fridge with perishable food.
If you didn’t have your pantry stocked, and are braving a trip to your local grocery store, you’ll want to grab some shelf-stable items like bread, peanut butter, canned goods, crackers, and snacks, like cookies or whatever your stress snack is!
These are edible even without power—and won’t end up in the trash.
If conditions worsen… These websites can help.
https://www.readyharris.org/ is our local Emergency management agency with information
https://www.houstontranstar.org/ for local road closure, and condition updates
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/ for warming center locations.
Your local library location may also be a warming center. Check on social media or on the library website for information @HarriscountyPL or our location pages
https://tracker.centerpointenergy.com/. The power tracker from CenterPoint shows which neighborhoods have or don’t have power: