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Pets
·Bring them inside. Pets, especially cats are safer indoors. According to Texas law, it's illegal for dogs to be chained at any time during such severe cold, and they shouldn't be left outside alone.
·If you can't have your pet inside, purchase an insulated doghouse or build a protective enclosure that shields your pet from the harsh outdoor elements.
·Certain pets are more vulnerable to cold temperatures such as shorthaired dogs, very young or old dogs, and all cats.
People
·Dress in layers and keep warm.
·Check on your elderly family or neighbors.
·The Homeless Connections Hotline number is 210-207-1799.
Plants
·Use mulch.
·Use insulating blankets or sheets. Do not use plastic to cover your plants as that will do more damage than the freeze.
·Got tender plants in containers? Consider moving them from the north side to the south side of the house.
·Some plants handle the cold weather better than others. Tropical plants suffer the most at 40 degrees. For hanging tropical plants, you're going to want to put them on the ground, bring them up by the porch, and/or garage.
·Watering also helps plants before an arctic blast. Water and a couple of inches of mulch insulates the root system.
·If the plant suffers from frost damage, it may be a while before you know.
Be wary of fire hazards
·Keep any materials that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces or space heaters. Also, consider electrical safety when it comes to space heaters. If the heater is older than 10 years, throw it away.
·Never use your oven to heat your residence.
·Never use generators outdoors.
·Never plug portage heaters into power strips, but directly into wall outlets.
·Always turn off portable heaters before leaving or going to bed.
·Don't leave children in a room alone with a space heater.
·Test your smoke alarms.
If stores are running out of the supplies you need to protect your home from the freeze, there are other items, probably around your home, that will do the trick.
* For pipes, the first alternative is a pool noodle. Plumbers say these foam floats will work as insulation for exposed outdoor pipes. Just cut the noodle down to the size you need and tape it around your pipe. If you don’t have that, you can also use towels, blankets, even old t-shirts and some duct tape.
* For plants, you can buy a frost protection cloth if it is available, but almost any fabric, like blankets or sheets, can be used instead. Just use them to wrap your plants all the way to the ground. The tighter you can wrap them, the better. Also, make sure they are well-watered. Don’t use plastic and make sure they are secured with rope or twine because it will be windy. Even placing some bricks or rocks at the base of the blanket will help hold it.
(KENS)