{"id":7259,"date":"2022-02-03T02:36:38","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T19:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/?p=7259"},"modified":"2022-04-21T01:50:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T18:50:05","slug":"your-preparation-guide-for-winter-storm-landon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/your-preparation-guide-for-winter-storm-landon\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Preparation Guide for Winter Storm Landon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Austinites carry groceries from a local store on February 15, 2021. Winter storm Uri brought historic cold weather to Texas, causing traffic delays and power outages. (Montinique Monroe\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Forecasters across the nation agree that winter storm Landon will blanket much of the state of Texas in freezing temperatures, sleet and possibly snow beginning Wednesday night. Here is your prep guide to keep you and your family safe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Story by Pete Ramirez<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to the incoming freezing conditions, Austin Community College has announced that all campuses will be closed Thursday and Friday and has canceled all in-person and online classes for those days as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tNearly a year ago Texas struggled to endure winter storm Uri, which caused the state\u2019s electric grid to fail, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2021\/02\/15\/rolling-blackouts-texas\/\">left millions without power<\/a> and led to the death of hundreds of Texans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tAlthough the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2021\/06\/03\/texas-electricity-bills-winter-storm-legislature\/\">Texas legislature passed a law requiring power companies to weatherize their plants<\/a>, Governor Abbott <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kvue.com\/article\/news\/local\/gov-abbott-winter-weather-comments-texas\/269-212353d4-f863-4453-b70a-8fab9baca1bc\">admitted that the possibility of blackouts still exist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forecasts for the next five days predict life-threatening, below-freezing temperatures across most of the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now is the time to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve compiled a guide to get you and your loved ones ready to deal with potentially dangerous, cold weather without the aid of electricity.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Stay Connected to Reliable Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>If your electronics still have power, use social media to receive the latest updates on the weather, warming center locations and free food opportunities in your area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tUse social media to search for mutual aids in your area who can provide additional support and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThe Texas Division of Emergency Management\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/tdem.texas.gov\/\">website<\/a> will also have a list of warming centers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conserve Your Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>If your power remains on, reduce your home\u2019s strain on the electric grid by keeping your thermostat below 68 degrees, unplugging devices that are not in use and avoiding the use of large appliances such as washing machines.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Try to Keep the Cold Air Out<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>If you have a garage, avoid opening it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tFind drafty edges of windows and doors and plug them with towels. Close all blinds and curtains. If possible, designate a \u201cwarm room\u201d to reside in to concentrate body heat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Protect Your Pipes from Freezing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>Open cabinets beneath sinks to allow warmer air to circulate through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tAllow faucets to drip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tDisconnect and store garden hoses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tLocate your water shutoff valve and keep it accessible. If pipes burst, immediately use this valve to shut off the water to your home.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning\/Death<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>During the week of winter storm Uri, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2021\/04\/29\/texas-carbon-monoxide-poisoning\/\">eleven Texans died due to carbon monoxide poisoning<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>Do not \u201cwarm up the car\u201d with the garage door closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>Do not use a generator indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tDo not burn charcoal or wood indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tSymptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dizziness, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tIf you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 immediately.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Snow Can be Used as Drinking Water<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> <\/strong>Forecasts don\u2019t indicate much snow for Central Texas but if you\u2019re in a northern part of the state, this could be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\t<\/strong>Find the cleanest appearing snow and gather what is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tPlace a small amount of snow in a pot over a safe heat source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tDo not place a large amount of snow in the pot to begin. Snow is a good insulator and you will burn out the bottom of your pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tOnce the small amount of snow is melted into water, slowly place more snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/disasters\/winter\/duringstorm\/indoorsafety.html\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> recommends bringing the water to a rolling boil for at least a minute to \u201ckill most germs.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Items to Consider Purchasing\/Locating, If Possible<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A three-day supply of water, non-perishable food, fomula and baby purees.<\/li><li>A cooler full of ice to keep refrigerated items cold.<\/li><li>Pet food.<\/li><li>A generator and extension cords.<\/li><li>Flashlights and batteries.<\/li><li>A first-aid kit and necessary medications.<\/li><li>Blankets.<\/li><li>Matches.<\/li><li>Gas for your vehicle.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tIf you feel like this guide is helpful, please share it with your family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stay safe!<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Austinites carry groceries from a local store on February 15, 2021. Winter storm Uri brought historic cold weather to Texas, causing traffic delays and power outages. (Montinique Monroe\/Getty Images) Forecasters across the nation agree that winter storm Landon will blanket much of the state of Texas in freezing temperatures, sleet and possibly snow beginning Wednesday [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4103,"featured_media":7260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1135,12],"tags":[100,1280,1274,1278,1276,1195,1277,1275,900,1279,1173,1272,1273],"class_list":["post-7259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-news","category-news","tag-austin-community-college","tag-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention","tag-freeze","tag-governor-greg-abbott","tag-ice","tag-pete-ramirez","tag-preparation-guide","tag-snow","tag-texas","tag-texas-division-of-emergency-management","tag-weather","tag-winter-storm-landon","tag-winter-storm-uri"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}