Stay safe with smart practices during winter weather conditions

CHEROKEE COUNTY – As county residents prepare for winter weather conditions in upcoming days, area officials are reminding people to stay safe with smart practices.

“Plan ahead when you are traveling,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson. “Leave early, don’t rush and if the roads get bad, stay home.”

According to a member of the CCSO dispatch team, residents can call 800-452-9292 for road conditions that department officials update regularly. Meanwhile, TxDOT offers information via the website drivetexas.org that focuses on road closures and conditions state wide.

Local alerts, warnings and closures can be found on the Texas Department of Transportation (Lufkin) page on Facebook, as well as TxDOT Lufkin on twitter.

Meanwhile, Lufkin District crews will begin preparing major roadways as early as Friday morning, as crews spend pre-dawn hours Friday searching anticipated slick areas, then begin to treat major roadways with brine solution, said TxDOT spokeswoman Rhonda Oaks.

According to a release, the nine-county district is preparing to begin 12-hour shifts on Saturday in preparation for predicted winter weather.

“US Highway 59 and other major roads, elevated surfaces, bridges and overpasses will be treated and re-treated as necessary throughout the coming weather event,” Oaks said. “Driving is discouraged on Monday and Tuesday due to possible icy patches. The brine solution does not keep roadways from freezing, but helps keep roadways open and clear of as much ice as possible.”

“We are discouraging travel unless it is absolutely necessary,” she said. “If you must drive, slow down. Be alert and watch out for TxDOT crews working through this winter storm – give them room to work.”

The Four P’s – People, Pets, Plants and Pipes

People: “We want to remind everyone that there’s always a chance of losing power, so be cautious of what is used for heat in warming your house,” Dickson said. “When using propane heaters, or just heaters in general, make sure that your fire and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order. Be cautious of carbon monoxide (build-up), and always have a back-up plan.”

The website ready.gov/winter-weather suggests keeping track of weather reports and warnings of winter weather conditions, which allow you to plan ahead, and do the following:

• Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind specific needs of family members and pets, such as medications, keep a ready source of extra batteries for radios and flashlights and, if possible, collect and set aside things like soap and hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes.

• Stay indoors and dress warmly.

• Prepare for power outages; use generators outside only, and away from windows.

• Create an emergency supply kit for your car.

• Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.

• Check on neighbors.

Pets: As a general rule of thumb, if it is too cold outside for the owner, it’s probably too cold to leave pets outside. Bring them in; if that is not possible, provide someplace warm where they can stay, such as extra blankets inside a doghouse or placing the structure somewhere that isn’t as exposed to the elements.

Also provide extra water for outdoor pets, and make sure the surface isn’t iced-over. Like their human owners, pets’ bodies burn extra energy in trying to stay warm – feed them a little more during cold weather.

Plants: Bring plants indoors as temperatures dip to freezing conditions. If they can’t be brough inside, Heather Rhodes shares in a blog for “Gardening Know How” different methods on protecting plants during a freeze (www.gardeningknowhow.com).

• Cover outdoor plants with a sheet or blanket, providing a sort of insulation that keeps the air around the plant warmer than the ground.

• When covering with plastic, make sure to place a cloth covering between plastic and plant to prevent damage to the plant.

• Remove the coverings from the plants the morning after a cold snap to prevent build-up and freezing of condensation.

• Heavily mulch the base of the plant to help protect the roots.

• Water the soil around the plant to help the soil retain heat, as well as help the plant’s roots and lower branches to survive.

Pipes: The American Red Cross offers some great tips on preventing frozen pipes at http://www.redcross.org

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines inside.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

• During very cold weather, let the water drip from outdoor faucets served by exposed pipes. This can help prevent pipes from freezing.

• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.