Winter has arrived in Iowa. Here's how to prepare for the dangerously low temperatures

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register
Updated ·4 min read

Low temperatures and snow storms have begun to take over the state of Iowa. This weather can be dangerous to you, your pet, your home and even more.

Here are tips to stay prepared during the winter:

How to prepare yourself to go outside in dangerously cold weather:

  • Wear three to four layers when going outside.

  • Avoid going outside if possible.

  • Hypothermia and frostbite can occur in just a few minutes. Keep all skin, including ears and face, covered.

How to prepare your car for cold weather in Iowa:

  • Parking in a garage, whether heated or not, will keep your car warmer than parking it outside. Even a carport keeps a car several degrees warmer than one parked outside with no protection.

  • Electric engine warming blankets can be easily fitted atop your engine or on the inside of your car hood to keep your engine warm overnight, according to Lifewire.com. Other heaters include block heaters that bolt electrical elements to the exterior of the engine, oil heaters that take the place of a dipstick and coolant heaters to keep the antifreeze from, well, freezing.

  • Keep jumper cables in your trunk.

  • Batteries hate cold weather and produce less current — power — when temperatures plummet. If your car battery is more than three years old, have it checked out by a repair shop or auto parts store to make sure it still holds a charge.

How to prepare your house for frigid temperatures

  • Leave a faucet slowly dripping to keep water flowing through the pipe. The water can be captured in a bucket and used for other purposes around the home, like watering plants and washing dishes.

  • Open under-sink cabinets to allow warm air to circulate near your pipes.

  • What if there’s no water coming out of your faucets? Check your water meter. If water is leaking or spraying from your meter or the bottom is cracked, your water meter is frozen. Feel for frozen pipes. Pipes located along exterior walls are most susceptible to freezing. To thaw pipes, contact a licensed plumber or use hot towels or a hair dryer. Never use an open flame.

  • Clean your gutters. This will allow melting snow to drain properly.

  • Inspect the roof and look for broken, frayed, curled or missing shingles; clogged valleys; damaged flashing; or deterioration. Cut back overhanging branches to prevent damage and check the attic and ceilings for staining from water leakage. Ensure the attic is properly ventilated to prevent mold and mildew.

Pets need help, too. Here's how to keep them safe in the cold:

  • Puppies, small dogs and older dogs have a lower tolerance for cold temperatures. Let them outside only to relieve themselves.

  • If your dog is built for colder weather and enjoys playing in the cold, increase its amount of food, especially by adding extra protein to their diet.

  • Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep that's off of the floor and away from drafts. If indoors, provide a warm blanket or pet bed. If you have an outside dog, consider bringing it inside. If your dog must stay outside, make sure it has adequate shelter and unfrozen water. The shelter must keep it warm and include dry bedding, such as straw. Do not use blankets outside because they will collect water and freeze.

  • Keep indoor cats inside. Cats can get lost in wintry weather and become injured or worse. If there are cats outdoors, provide them with a warm place to sleep, access to unfrozen water and nutritious food.

  • Dogs that are let off-leash during the winter, especially during a snowstorm, have a higher chance of becoming lost. Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags and has been microchipped.

  • Check twice before starting your car. Outdoor cats often climb under the hoods of cars to keep warm. When the motor starts, the cat may be injured or killed by the fan belt. Knock or bang loudly on the hood of your car before starting it to give cats a chance to escape.

  • Never leave your cat or dog in a vehicle in cold weather. The vehicle acts as a refrigerator, keeping the cold in and causing the animal to freeze.

  • Towel dry your dog’s paws, legs and stomach when bringing them inside. Chemical agents used to melt ice can be dangerous for your dog to ingest. Snow and encrusted ice may also cause your dog’s paws to bleed.

— Information from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her atvreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter@VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to prepare yourself, your home for Iowa's low temperatures