[nndl] Preventatives for People and Pets.

City of Austin officials are not recommending any facility closures, nor do they anticipate any road closures or weather-related public safety activations, according to a statement released today. Public safety, public works, aviation and utility personnel are on stand-by, however, and prepared for action should conditions change suddenly, officials said. Any changes in conditions or special advisories will be available on the Austin/Travis County Emergency Conditions Web site at www.cityofaustin.org/oem/oem_results.cfm.
Officials said that while ice is not expected, drivers are asked to pay especially close attention to roadway conditions during their morning commutes, avoid using cell phones when driving and slow down. Drivers should also bring a heavy coat when driving even short distances, as even a minor traffic accident or car trouble could leave stranded motorists susceptible to sub-freezing temperatures.
The city, in cooperation with the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless and the Salvation Army, automatically activates its Winter Weather Homeless Shelter Plan any time temperatures drop below 32 degrees (35 degrees if accompanied by precipitation). Homeless residents who need shelter are urged to go to the ARCH or the Salvation Army, both located near Seventh and Neches streets. Capital Metro will take persons to ARCH for free from anywhere in the city.
Forecasters said cold weather is expected to arrive Wednesday night and said highs Thursday and Friday will bubble out of the 30s.
Lows Friday night are expected to be the coldest, possibly dipping into the teens, said Pat McDonald, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“The biggest thing I’m worried about is that with these strong temperatures and cold winds, we are going to produce wind chill temperatures in the single digits,” McDonald said.
He said winds Thursday will be out of the north at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 40 mph.
Kimmel urged people, particularly those who might be leaving town for Thursday’s University of Texas game in California, to protect their pipes.
“There is nothing like coming back to your house and finding all the pipes busted,” Kimmel said.
The City of San Marcos offers the following tips for protecting pipes:
An eighth-inch crack in a pipe can leak up to 250 gallons of water a day. By taking a few simple precautions, you can save yourself the mess, money and aggravation frozen pipes can cause.

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  Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
  
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  Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions.
  
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  Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
  
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  Disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house. If you don’t have a separate valve to turn off outside water, wrap or cover faucets or hose bibs with an insulating material.
  
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  Letting a faucet drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting. Opening a faucet will provide relief from the excessive pressure that builds between the faucet and the ice blockage when freezing occurs. A dripping faucet wastes some water, so only pipes vulnerable to freezing (ones that run through an unheated or unprotected space) should be left with the water flowing.
  
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  Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

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  Set the thermostat in your house no lower than 55 degrees.
  
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  Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it’s warm enough to prevent freezing.

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  MULCHING is one of the best ways to protect plant roots. As a rule, the mulch should be about two inches in depth and kept an inch or two away from trunks or main stems of the trees and shrubs. There are exceptions, such as roses and cane berries, where the mulch is actually mounded over the canes.
  
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  WATER well before a freeze is expected. First of all plants under drought stress can be more susceptible to cold damage. By watering plants several days or more before cold weather threatens you can relieve stress if they are suffering from drought. Water is also a great “heat sink” — that is, it holds warmth and releases it slowly, more slowly than plant surfaces or air.
  
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  COVERING is one of the most effective ways of protecting the foliage of broadleaf evergreen shrubs. The main source of heat for a plant is the soil. On a cold night heat from the soil rises up around the plants; covering helps trap in some of that heat. Start by placing three or four stakes around the plant being protected, then drape cloth material over the stakes, being careful that the cloth does not come in contact and freeze on the leaves. (Clear plastic is not recommended. Burlap, old sheets or similar fabric make the best coverings.) As soon as the weather warms or it begins to rain, remove the coverings.
  

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  MOVE PLANTS IN CONTAINERS inside an unheated shed or into a garage during a hard freeze. Move them back out once the weather improves. If the planted container is too large to move into the garage, you can mulch around the sides of the container or wrap the container with blankets or packing.

For more information on protecting plants, click here.
The City of Austin advises residents to keep an emergency preparedness kit stocked:
Central Texas weather can change quickly, especially during the winter months, and all residents are strongly encouraged to keep an emergency preparedness kit containing the following:

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  Flashlights and extra batteries
  
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  Extra food and water. A well-stocked emergency kit should have sufficient food and water to last up to 72 hours. High-energy food, such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration, are recommended.
  
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  First-aid supplies
  
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  Extra baby-care items
  
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  Sufficient prescription medications
  
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  Extra water and food for pets
  
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  Extra blankets
  
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  Battery-powered NOAA all-weather radio
  
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  Fire extinguisher
  
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  Emergency heating sources, such as battery-operated space heaters, are recommended but should only be used in well-ventilated areas, away from combustible materials and curtains and on non-carpeted floorings. Residents should check smoke detectors and have a working fire extinguisher readily available before using any alternate heating sources.

A complete disaster-preparedness supply list is available at www.austinhsem.com/go/doc/2333/354150/.
The ASPCA offers the following cold weather tips for keeping pets safe:
Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

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  Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed.
  
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  During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
  
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  Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm —dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
  
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  Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
  
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  Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
  
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  Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
  
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  Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
  
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  Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him — and his fur — in tip-top shape.
  
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  Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
  

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  Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.