Winter Storm Safety

Stay Warm. Stay Informed.

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During extremely cold weather or winter storms, staying warm and safe can be a challenge. Winter storms can bring cold temperatures, power failures, water outages, loss of communication services, and deadly traffic conditions. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, you should know how to prepare before a winter storm hits.

Current Winter Conditions

There are no current winter weather conditions. Go to weather.gov for weather updates. Sign up for WarnCentralTexas.org to receive accurate & timely local alerts.

Preparing for a Winter Storm

Keep Yourself and Loved Ones Safe and Plan Ahead:

  • Make a communication plan and a disaster plan for your family.
  • Sign up for WarnCentralTexas.org to receive accurate and timely local alerts. 
  • Create an emergency supply kit by gathering supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if power and water outages affect  your area. The CDC recommends having at least 3 days’ worth of supplies on hand, including one gallon of water per day for each person and pet. For more information, visit Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency.
  • ​Create a Winter Storm Survival Kit in your car that includes the following and have it ready before freezes are predicted in the area:
    • Mobile phone, charger, batteries
    • Blankets/sleeping bags
    • Flashlight with extra batteries
    • First-aid kit
    • Knife
    • High-calorie, non-perishable food
    • Extra clothing to keep dry
    • Large empty can to use as emergency toilet, tissues, toilet paper and paper towels
    • Small can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water
    • Sack of sand or cat litter for traction
    • Shovel
    • Windshield scraper and brush
    • Tool kit
    • Tow rope
    • Battery booster cables
    • Water container
    • Candle and matches to provide light and in an emergency, lifesaving heat.
    • Compass and road maps, don't depend on mobile devices with limited battery life

Weatherproof Your Home Before a Winter Storm:

  • Wrap exposed faucets and pipes, including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas. If you don't have the foam pipe coverings, a towel or rag and duct tape will do the trick.
  • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors and make sure you've closed inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Disconnect your hose and keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
  • Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight.
  • Cover any vents around your home's foundation.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
  • Drain swimming pool circulation systems or keep the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could damage it.)
  • Drain water sprinkler supply lines.
  • Make sure you know where your home's water shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off.
  • Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
  • ​​Protect plants. Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind. For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.
  • Consider having a bag of kitty litter, sand, or commercial deicer available to treat your steps and sidewalks to prevent injuries from slipping on ice.

Stay Safe During a Winter Storm

Driving During a Winter Storm:

Travel is not recommended unless it is an emergency, but if travel is necessary, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Check current road conditions and closures at drivetexas.org before you leave the house. 
  • Slow down. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions.
  • Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice.
  • Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas as they tend to freeze first.
  • If your vehicle starts to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction of the skid until you have regained traction. Then straighten your vehicle.

If You Are Under a Winter Storm Watch or Warning:

  • Review your emergency plans and supplies, checking to see if any items are missing (details above), including ensuring you have enough of all neccesary prescription medications.
  • Take steps to weatherproof your home & prepare for possible power outages, road closures, etc.:
    • Follow all applicable Weatherproofing Your Home tips from above.
    • Drip faucets (5 drops per minute) in sustained sub-freezing weather. If possible, collect this water to reuse for other purposes (hygiene, dish washing, toilet flushing, etc.) in case of water outages or boil water notices.
    • Keep your cell-phone or other communication devices charged in case of loss of power.
  • Stay tuned to local authorities, radio and television stations for updates. All City of Kyle updates will be posted on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
  • Take steps to protect pets:
    • Indoor pets should have their bed or crate placed in a safe and warm place that is away from drafts.
    • Outdoor pets should have a well insulated house that is wind and waterproof resistant and elevated off the ground so wind and moisture can't seep inside. Install a door flap to protect against drafts and gusts of wind. Extra blankets and straw will also help to increase your pet's warmth. It is unlawful to allow an animal to remain tethered outside during a severe weather event, which includes conditions in which the actual or effective outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the City of Kyle Code of Ordinances.
    • Make sure all animals have access to unfrozen water. 
  • Stay off the ice. Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many injuries related to cold weather happen from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. 

If You Lose Power During a Winter Storm:

  • Conserve Heat: 
    • Avoid unnecessarily opening doors or windows.
    • Close off all unneeded rooms.
    • Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
    • Close draperies or cover windows with blankets at night.
  • Stay indoors and wear warm clothes. Layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing will keep you warmer than a bulky sweater. If you feel too warm, remove layers to avoid sweating; if you feel chilled, add layers.
  • Use Extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats to stay warm inside.
  • Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages—they cause your body to lose heat faster. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help keep yourself warm.
  • Observe Generator Safety:
    • NEVER use generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows. The fumes are deadly.
    • Generators should be located at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent and in a space where rain and snow will not reach them.
    • Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector.
    • Do not use the generator or appliances if they are wet.
    • Do not store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.
  • Observe Heater Safety:
    • Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak gas from the flue or exhaust into the indoor air space.
    • If you must use a kerosene heater, make sure you have proper ventilation.
    • Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water; keep heat sources at least three (3) feet away from furniture and drapes.
    • Use only the type of fuel your heater is designed to use—don’t substitute.
  • Make Sure infants & Older Adults Are Safe & Warm:
    • Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults. Dress babies in warmer clothing such as footed pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets, or sleep sacks.
    • Check on elderly friends and neighbors. Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. Check to make sure their homes are heated properly and that they are okay.
  • Prolonged power outages from winter storms can affect well sites and water pumping stations. When well sites and water pumping stations go down, they lose the ability to pressurize the system, which can trigger a Boil Water Notice. Check CityofKyle.com/BoilWater for active boil water notices and best practices during a boil water notice.

If Your Pipes Freeze:

  • If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve (locate this before you have an emergency). Don't turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.
  • If the pipe hasn't burst, thaw it out with an electric heating pad, hair dryer, portable space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat source toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot because cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Turn the faucet on and let it run until the pipe is thawed and water pressure returns to normal.
  • Don't use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire risks and carbon monoxide exposure risks.
  • If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

Winter Storm Recovery Resources & Information

Immediate Assistance:

  • If you are in need of immediate emergency assistance, dial 9-1-1.
  • If you are in need of an Emergency Shelter:
    • Locate options by zip code by visiting the American Red Cross website or Salvation Army website.
    • Text SHELTER and your zip code (for example, “SHELTER 78640”) to 4FEMA (43362). For Spanish text REFUGIO and your zip code. (Standard text message rates apply.) 
    • Download the FEMA Mobile App to find open shelters.
  • For other resources available to Kyle residents, visit findhelp.org.

Local Resources:

This section will be updated during and after winter storm events to have local information and resources as they become available.

  • Water Leak Adjustment Policy: The City of Kyle has a Water Leak Adjustment Policy in place that allows Kyle water customers — commercial and residential — to pay a lower rate in the event of a leak. If you experienced a leak in your plumbing system due to freezing temperatures, please complete a water leak adjustment request form, available in English and Spanish. The form can also be downloaded and printed from the above links and emailed to All-Utilities@cityofkyle.com, mailed to the Utility Billing Department at 100 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640 or dropped off in person at City Hall Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For questions regarding the City of Kyle's Water Leak Adjustment Policy, call the Utility Billing Department at 512-262-3960. 

Important Contact Information:

  • To contact the Kyle Police Department Non-Emergency line, call 512-268-3232.
  • To contact the Kyle Fire Department Non-Emergency line, call 512- 268-3131.
  • To contact Pedernales Electric Cooperative to report outages or other issues, call 888-883-3379 or go to pec.smarthub.coop or on the smarthub app.
  • Contact Area Water Service Providers:
  • Contact Area Natural Gas Providers:
    • Call Center Point Energy's customer support line at 800-376-9663 or report a gas leak at 888-876-5786.
    • Call Texas Gas customer support at 800-700-2443 or report a gas leak at 800-959-5325.

Beginning the Recovery Process:

  • If you sustained damage from snow or ice during a winter storm and you have insurance, contact your insurance company.
  • Stay tuned for updates about government assistance. Local authorities and leaders will potentially issue a declaration, which could open doors for disaster recovery funds to be issued to affected residents in the area.
  • Photograph your damage. Take photographs of all the damage to your property for insurance purposes. This is especially important for objects you remove from your home.
  • Keep all receipts. Document the cost of supplies bought and work done to prevent additional damage to your home (such as dry wall repair, cleaning supplies, boxes for packing salvageable items, or temporary accommodations). Some of these costs may be reimbursed by insurance.

How Disaster Declarations & Assistance Are Issued:

After a disaster, declarations can be issued at the local, state, and federal levels of government, with the type of assistance available depending on the level of government that declares the disaster. The City of Kyle handles disasters through our emergency management plan. However, if the severity of the disaster is beyond local government capability, we will issue a disaster declaration and appeal to the state for additional resources. Federal disaster assistance only becomes available after a presidential disaster is declared. The Texas Governor must request a disaster declaration from the President.