Author: TOTL

With Temperatures Expected to Drop Below Freezing, Refresh Your Knowledge on the Four P’s: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants

People

  1. Avoid going outside if it is not necessary. If you do, make sure you layer up from head to toe.
  2. To keep you and your family safe, it is imperative your home is warm.
  3. Make sure your heat is set to an appropriate temperature to make your entire home comfortable. Remember, heat rises so if you sleep upstairs, your room may be warmer than rooms downstairs.
  4. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
  5. If you smell smoke or see flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Pets

  1. While protecting your family, it is imperative to protect your pets as well.
  2. Pets, like humans, are vulnerable to cold temperatures. If not taken care of properly, they can succumb to frostbite and even hypothermia.
  3. If you have a dog that typically lives outdoors, consider letting them inside when temperatures drop to freezing. While their fur does help to keep them warm, it provides little help in freezing temperatures.
  4. If you absolutely cannot bring them inside, make sure they have a warm shelter, plenty of food and fresh water so it does not freeze.
  5. If your pet looks like it has any symptoms resembling frostbite or hypothermia, call your vet.

Pipes

  1. All garden hoses should be disconnected from outside spigots.
  2. Make sure to cover all your exposed pipes with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels, duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly.
  3. Let your faucets drip throughout the day to keep them from freezing.
  4. You should also open up the cabinets to let warm air circulate throughout your home. Just make sure any harmful chemicals are out of reach for children and pets.

Plants

  1. When cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants.
  2. If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

Storm Debris and Drain Blockage

To reduce flooding and ensure that storm water continues to drain uninhibited, especially after a large storm such as Hurricane Beryl, the District’s storm water drainage facilities must remain unblocked. The most impactful things you can do to help are as follows:

  • REPORT DEBRIS AND DAMAGED FENCES to the Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 3 (“Precinct 3”) debris hotline at 713-274-3880. You can also call Precinct 3’s dispatch at 713-274-3100 if the debris hotline is busy.
  • Manually clear storm inlets from visible debris.
  • Do not place, pile or store any collected storm debris near storm water drainage facilities such as storm drains, manholes or culverts.
  • If possible, do not park cars on the street near or across from storm debris piles. This ensures that any trucks and equipment used by Precinct 3 for cleanup will be able to access the debris.