Keeping your house weatherproof during the winter season is important and can save you and your family from property damage, uncomfortable living conditions, and weather-related injuries.

Some steps you can take to weatherproof your home include making sure the attic is properly insulated, caulking and weather-stripping areas like windows and doorways that lead outside, and installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Gather food, water, batteries, flashlights, medications, and other emergency kit materials. Keep your cell phone charged as much as possible and have a battery-powered radio in case you lose power so you can stay up to date with local news updates.

Make sure your vehicle has at least half a tank of gas so you can stay warm if you become stranded.

If you receive advanced notice that harsh winter conditions are expected, when you prepare for the freeze, consider “Protecting the 4 Ps”: People, Pets, Pipes, Plants.

Check on vulnerable persons in your household and neighborhood to ensure they have food, water, medications, and materials needed to stay warm for multiple days.

Keep your pets inside, near heating sources, and limit their time outdoors.

If possible, bring potted plants inside and cover outdoor plants.

Pipes bursting during a freeze can be extremely expensive. Make sure to cover exposed pipes outdoors with a blanket, towel, or cloth. Disconnect outdoor hoses from faucets and follow your water providers’ instructions on whether to drip indoor faucets. Remember to open cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated air to circulate to the water pipes.

During a freeze event, remember to stay off the roadways and stay inside as much as possible. Listen to local officials and news sources for the latest updates and guidance.

Resources: https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-before and Galveston County 4 P's