Corporate Housing Travelers & Furnished Apartments in Dallas, gathered some information for you folks, keep safe and be well
What temperature is freeze warning? Freeze Warning: Issued when there is at least an 80% chance that the temperature will hit 32 degrees F. or lower. Hard Freeze When the temperature falls below 28 degrees F What is a hard freeze warning? Hard Freeze Warning – Widespread temperatures at or below 28 °F (−2 °C) during the growing season. A hard freeze may occur with or without frost. Heat Advisory – High Heat Index (HI) values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warningcriteria for one or two days. Is there a thunderstorm warning? A severe thunderstorm warning (SAME code: SVR) is issued by the National Weather Service when trained storm spotters or Doppler weather radar indicate that athunderstorm is producing or will soon produce dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. What's considered below freezing? Frost or freezing occurs when the temperature of air falls below the freezing point ofwater (0 °C, 32 °F, 273.15 K). This is usually measured at the height of 1.2 m above the ground surface. When cold weather occurs, Houstonians should remember to protect the Four 'P's: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.People• Dress in warm, layered clothing, including gloves, a coat, and a hat when you are outside. • Never leave children or the elderly in vehicles during cold weather, as they can act as refrigerators and expose anyone inside to sub-freezing temperatures.• Never use a generator, grill, camp-stove, or any gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device to heat your home (or any enclosed area). These devices can generate carbon monoxide, which can't be seen or smelled, but is deadly.Pets• Protect your pets by ensuring that they have a warm, safe place to sleep. The best place for a pet to sleep is in a heated environment.• Do not shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.• Never leave your animal in a car during cold weather. Cars can act as refrigerators in the winter, holding in the cold and causing animals to freeze to death.For more cold-weather tips for pets, visit the page in the following link from the ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/cold-weather-tips.aspxPipes• While generally, pipes don't freeze until temperatures hit the mid 20s, its important to make sure you're prepared and have proper insulation ready to go.• During cold weather, pipes may freeze and rupture, causing water leaks and damage to your home. Protect your home by opening the cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow air from your home's heater to warm the pipes under the sink. Let faucets drip - as moving water freezes more slowly than still water.• Insulate outdoor faucets and pipes with insulation or newspaper, and be sure to disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor spigots.Plants• Protect plants from freezing by covering them with plant-cover fabric, or a light blanket with plastic sheeting on top of it.• Be sure to group potted plants together, and near the edge of a building. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze, even if the above-surface leafs survive.For up-to-date weather information, visit the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston forecast office website at weather.gov/houston.For updates on this situation, visit the City of Houston Emergency Information Site at houstontx.gov/emergency. Before Freezing WeatherWrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home.Remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Insulate outside faucets with Styrofoam cover, rags or paper.Cover vents around the foundation of your home.Know where your property owner’s cut-off valve is located and how to use it. Apply oil such as WD-40 to the cut-off valve before operating to prevent the valve from breaking. The valve is located adjacent to the water meter box under a 6" metal lid.In Sub-Freezing WeatherDrip outside faucets 24 hours a day (5 drops per minute). This is not necessary unless temperatures are expected to be 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours. (Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.)Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Water softeners should be drained and protected from freezing temperatures.In sustained sub-freezing weather, let water drip slowly from inside faucets.Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past.If You Are Not Going To Be HomeShut water off at the property owner’s cut-off valve.Drain all outside water faucets if your house will be unoccupied for several days (leave outside faucets open).Or, leave home heating system on at a low setting.Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.Renters and tenants may be responsible for personal property damage caused by broken water pipes during severe weather conditions. Residents should contact property management/landlord or maintenance personnel to locate property owner’s cut-off valve and find ways to avoid pipe breakage during a freeze.Austin Water encourages all customers to turn off irrigation systems during the winter months to help conserve water. However, businesses that continue to operate landscape irrigation systems are asked to shut their systems off in order to prevent possible freezing of pedestrian areas and damage caused by freezing conditions.If a water line breaks and the cut off valve does not work or the customer is unable to locate or operate the valve, Austin Water is available to turn off the wate