Dangerously low temperatures are forecast for Sunday Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 14, 15 and 16. Follow the tips below to stay safe. Some of these suggestions sound like worst case scenario warnings but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
- Check on neighbors and family members who are not in your household.
- Bring pets indoors.
- Cover or bring plants indoors.
- Protect outdoor pipes to ensure they do not freeze.
- Set indoor faucets to drip and open cabinet doors to keep pipes warm.
- If there are any holes or cracks in your house to seal those up to keep it warmer.
- Be sure you know where your water shutoff valve is – outside your house – so that if a pipe bursts, you will be able to turn your water off at the meter.
- Be sure your cell phone is fully charged.
- Build an emergency kit. Include prescription medications, nonperishable food, water, blankets, flashlights and a battery-powered radio – to take care of you and your family during the outage.
- To stay safe, be sure that any alternative heat sources are used exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
- Protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep grills, camp stoves, etc., as well as generators, out of the house, basement and garage.
- Generators should be placed at a safe distance from the house – at least 20 feet .
- Keep a battery-powered radio handy to receive updates about the winter weather and any emergency announcements.
Power outages
Power outages can occur when there is not enough power to keep up with demand on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. ERCOT’s highest level alert, Energy Emergency Alert 3, requires controlled power outages also known as load shedding.
- You can help by reducing electricity use if ERCOT asks for conservation.
- Set thermostat at 68 degrees.
- Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that you are not using.
- Only use the clothes washer, dryer and dishwasher when they are fully loaded.
Additional help
- Register for the Garland Emergency Notification System: Sign up at GarlandTX.gov/Alerts or call 972-781-7272.
- If you have a power outage, report it to GP&L by calling 972-205-3000 or texting OUT to 972-205-4000. Oncor customers should call 888-313-4747.
- To receive alerts specific to your address, sign up for the Garland Emergency Notification System at gov/Alerts.
- Stay proactive, stay informed and stay safe. For more information, visit gov/OEM.
Information from city of Garland, Atmos Energy, Centers for Disease Control and www.ready.gov