Avoid polar distress: How to stay safe, protect plants and animals during extreme cold

From Staff Reports
·7 min read

Several agencies in Amarillo and West Texas are offering tips on how to stay safe and warm ahead of this weekend's arctic front causing temperatures to plummet as well as extreme and dangerous wind chills.

A Braums sign is nearly completely covered by snow after a mix of strong winds and snowfall overnight earlier this year, as seen in this file photo. An arctic front is going to bring extreme cold temperatures and wind chills to the area this weekend.
A Braums sign is nearly completely covered by snow after a mix of strong winds and snowfall overnight earlier this year, as seen in this file photo. An arctic front is going to bring extreme cold temperatures and wind chills to the area this weekend.

City of Amarillo

The city of Amarillo has offered these tips and resources to help keep residents safe:

Pipes: Allow water faucets to drip. Running water helps relieve pressure and reduces the chances of pipes freezing or bursting. Keep cabinet doors open, as heat from the rest of the home can keep pipes warm. Add extra insulation to pipes in areas with higher cold exposure such as north-facing walls. Keep the thermostat above 55 degrees even when not at home. For water maintenance issues, the city's Utilities Department can be reached at (806) 378-6824.

Pets: Bring pets indoors during harsh weather, if possible. If a pet must be outside, owners are required to provide a safe and insulated shelter along with a thawed water source and food. The Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare Department will be closed to the public Thursday, Dec. 22, for the safety of the animals in the shelter.

Shelter: The Amarillo Emergency Shelters provide a safe, warm environment when weather is extreme during the winter. Amarillo Public Library locations will be open during regular hours through Thursday.

  • Day shelters: Guyon Saunders Resource Center (men, women, and families), 200 S. Tyler, (806) 373-0704, winter hours: Sunday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Saturdays); Faith City Mission, (Men, women, families, and dogs), 600 N. Tyler (806) 373-6402, winter hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays)

  • Night shelters: Salvation Army (men, women, and families), 400 S. Harrison (806) 373-6631, open daily, 4:30 pm to 7:30 a.m.; Faith City Mission (overnight men’s shelter only, and dogs), 600 N. Tyler (806) 373-6402, open daily, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

  • Code Blue Warming Station (men, women, families, any owner accompanied pets), 207 N. Tyler (806) 414-2243,hours when activated: 7 p.m. through 7:30 a.m. For more info, visit their Facebook page.

Roads: COA street crews will be active/on-call and prepared for possible snow and ice treatment, if necessary. COA traffic operations staff will be monitoring traffic signals in case of power outages and/or failures.

Police

The Amarillo Police Department made a post on Facebook noting Wednesday as the official first day of winter.

"We want to remind everyone, that we are predicted to have a few extreme cold days over the next few days," the post reads. "Please remember to check on those who might be vulnerable during this time. There are places for them to stay. Also, take your time getting to work or vacation or shopping or wherever you're going. We don't want anyone to be stuck outside in this kind of weather. And even though it is very tempting to leave your car running and unattended, that is exactly what the thieves will be hoping for, so protect your property and stay with your vehicle, or take your keys with you and lock the doors. We wish you all Holiday Blessings."

Utilities

Xcel Energy and Atmos Energy have released information on their grids being ready for the cold weather, and also some tips on how to keep bills lower, stay warm and stay informed in the event of a power outage.

Winterization reviews are conducted annually each fall at Xcel Energy’s Texas New Mexico power plants, and new wind farms such as Sagamore in New Mexico and Hale in Texas were built with “cold weather packages” that allow the turbines to run in subzero temperatures. The company said it has also replaced thousands of wooden poles and updated wire on many key distribution feeder lines across the area to reduce outages caused by high winds and ice buildup.

For details on Xcel Energy’s Home Energy Services program, go to xcelenergyefficiency.com. Another important way to save on heating costs is to adjust the thermostat. To report outages, use the Xcel Energy mobile app available on iOS and Android, go online to xcelenergy.com/out or call 1-800-895-1999 and follow the prompts.

Xcel Energy's system is part of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) within the Eastern Interconnection and is not part of ERCOT in Texas or the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) that serves a large portion of New Mexico. For more, visit the Southwest Power Pool at www.spp.org.

Atmos Energy reminds customers to stay alert to changing weather conditions in their area, while following these safety tips:

  • Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home, and minimize the risk of frozen pipes.

  • Protect natural gas meters by removing snow and ice with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object.

  • Safely remove snow from vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment. Blocked vents for appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas.

  • If you think you smell gas, leave the area immediately and call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866-322-8667.

  • See https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/recognizing-leak for more details. Visit atmosenergy.com/energytips and atmosenergy.com/carbonmonoxide-safety. Contact Atmos Energy’s customer service team at 888-286-6700 or visit atmosenergy.com/accountcenter.

TxDOT

The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Amarillo District reminds everyone to prepare in advance of the storm. Having your vehicle properly serviced will help prevent potential hazards. Keep a variety of items in your vehicle, including flares, blankets, warm clothes, shovel and scraper, flashlight and batteries, candles, Sterno flame, lighter and matches, first-aid kit, booster cable, non-perishable food, and water.

Expect winds to be worse in exposed places like straight, open roads and bridges and overpasses. Drivers should also be aware of high-profile vehicles like large trucks, vans, buses, and RVs. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and ones around you. Steering can be more difficult in high wind conditions, so keep a firm grip on the wheel with both hands or pull over until you feel it's safe to continue.

Fatigue is a major cause of serious traffic accidents, and TxDOT’s Travel Information Centers and Rest Areas offer a safe place to stop.

AgriLife: Plants, livestock, more

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has offered tips on how to protect your plants, pets and more. The AgriLife Extension Disaster Education Network has multiple resources for Texans to access and prepare.

Cold-sensitive plants will require more protection than hardier plants. Plants in containers should be moved inside the home or garage, where temperatures will stay above freezing. If container plants cannot be moved indoors, put them on the south side of the house, water them well and pile on mulch, leaves or hay to protect the roots and/or cover them with a frost blanket. When covering landscape plants and horticultural crops, drape them with cardboard or cloth material to the ground and secure it, to trap warmer air to protect plants from a killing freeze. Making sure plants are not drought-stressed can also help.

Most livestock species are adaptable; however, it’s important to provide animals shelter to protect them from cold, blustery and wet conditions. Keep outdoor bedding fresh as well as ample water supplies and forage for livestock.

More on pets

Tips offered by American Humane and ASPCA, including leaving your pets’ coats a little longer in the winter. Bang loudly on the hood of your car a few times before starting the engine to avoid a tragic situation with a cat seeking heat or shelter. Watch out for antifreeze spills, which can be deadly to pets when ingested.

Give short-haired or smaller dogs a coat and booties to wear during short walks. Ensure your pet has a warm, dry place to sleep that is off the floor with extra bedding and away from drafts. If you see symptoms of frostbite, such as discoloration, swelling, or skin ulcers, contact your veterinarian immediately. Beware of salt, chemicals and ice: After walks, make sure to towel-dry your pet and clean their feet and stomach and check for cracks in paw pads or redness.

Create a portable pet emergency kit with medical records, water, bowls, pet food, and any pet medications to last at least five days. Determine in advance which rooms offer safe havens during an outage that are clear of windows. Use battery powered lanterns, flashlights, and headlamps instead of candles.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Avoid polar distress: How to stay safe and warm during extreme cold