Texas Winter Weather Preparation: Driving, Home, and Plant Care Tips

Winter Driving Safety

• 🚗 Reduce your speed by about a third of the speed limit on slick roads.
• ⚠️ If your car skids, let off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid; do not slam on brakes.
• ↔️ Double your normal following distance to four car lengths.
• 🚨 Be aware that first responders will be extremely busy, so accidents could mean long waits for help.
• 🧊 Bridges and ramps freeze first, and black ice can be a significant hazard even if conditions appear clear.

Home Winterization Tips

• 💧 Consider a slow drip for faucets on outside walls and open cabinet doors to allow heat to reach pipes.
• 🚰 Remove outdoor garden hoses, cover hose bibs, and know the location of your water shut-off valve.
• 🔑 A Jones Stevens key can be used to open locked outdoor water meter covers to shut off water at the main if pipes freeze.
• 🏊 For pools, turn on the freeze guard system and let pumps run to prevent water from freezing and causing damage.
• ⚠️ Carbon monoxide cases are common; ensure proper use of generators and working CO detectors.

Protecting Your Plants

• 🪴 For native plants, apply one to two inches of mulch around the base.
• 🧥 For exotic or tropical plants, wrap shrubs with frost cloths or blankets, akin to a winter jacket.
• 💡 Adding incandescent Christmas lights can help keep plants warmer.
• 🏠 Potted plants should be moved into a garage or onto a covered patio to protect their roots from cold.
• 💧 Watering plants before a freeze can help keep them a little warmer.

Vehicle Preparedness

• 🔋 Ensure batteries are fresh with clean terminals, and radiator and windshield washer fluid are topped off.
• ❄️ Use a windshield washer fluid that won't freeze; plain water can burst tanks and pumps.
• 💨 Check tire pressure, as cold weather affects it, and low pressure can increase slipping on ice.
• 🛠️ If unsure about checking tire pressure, have it done by a professional.