How to prepare for inclement winter weather in San Antonio this weekend

Well the weather outside is really terrible this week with a strong cold front expected to pass through the San Antonio area. The arctic blast will bring the coldest temperatures we’ve seen this season and temperatures are expected to drop below 20 degrees on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

According to a statement from the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy has strengthened the resilience of its power plants to sustained sub-zero temperatures by implementing winterization initiatives. While ERCOT expects sufficient generation to meet projected demand, “CPS Energy is pushing for energy conservation to help residents save money on their bills,” the press release said.

With this in mind, the city, county and partners urge all residents to prepare for cold weather by remembering the four Ps: people, pets, plants and pipes. Here’s everything you need to know about these four causes, provided by the City of San Antonio:

people
Stay warm and dress in layers. Find out about family, friends and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to this week’s cold weather or may not have access to housing and heating, including the elderly and those with special needs. The San Antonio Fire Department recommends the following:

Keep anything that may be burning at least three feet away from heating appliances such as the stove, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
Install and maintain CO (carbon monoxide) alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning.
Never use your stove to heat your home.
Never use a generator indoors.
Always plug portable heaters directly into a wall outlet (no power strips).
Remember to turn off portable heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
Never leave children unattended in a room with space heating.
Test smoke detectors at least once a month.

311 Customer Service will be open Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23 from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. 311 operates from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the holidays. Residents can call 311 (210-207-6000) or use the 311 SA mobile app.

Rental tips
Landlords are required to maintain their rental properties in accordance with the minimum standards of the San Antonio Property Maintenance Code (Sec. 6-52). Heaters must be able to maintain a minimum internal temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (measured three feet off the floor). To report suspected violations, call 311.

heat centers
The city and county will open seven heat centers beginning December 22 at 3 p.m. to offer short-term emergency shelters:

Normoyle Community Center – 700 Culberson Ave.
South Side Lions Senior Center – 3303 Pecan Valley Dr.
Garza Community Center — 1450 Mira Vista
Christ the King Lutheran Church – 1129 Pat Booker Road, Universal City
Emergency Services District 5 – 7120 E. 6th S., Somerset
Emergency Services District 3 – 23103 Bulverde Rd.
Emergency Services District 7 – 11617 Galm Rd.

Anyone coming to the center should bring clothing, supplies and medication. Kennels will be available for pets in the Normoyle, South Side Lions and Garza centers. VIA passengers can travel to or from a warm-up center free of charge, and residents can also call 311 to request a ride to a warm-up center.

Unprotected people
Last week, the city and its nonprofit partners began contacting vulnerable people to provide warm-weather clothing, blankets, transportation, shelter and meal information. Haven for Hope has expanded admission hours and emergency bed capacity, and Communities Under the Bridge will be open December 22-25 for meals and accommodation. The Homeless Connections Hotline (210-207-1799) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on December 22 and December 23.

pets
Pets should be brought indoors and provided with a warm place to sleep. State law dictates that dogs cannot be tied to any size chain at any time; It also states that dogs may not be restrained and left outdoors unattended during officially defined extreme weather conditions or situations where an animal is in serious distress, including conditions where the actual or effective outside temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keepers will be on patrol for the rest of the week. Potential violators can face confiscation of their pet, fines of up to $2,000 and 180 days in prison for repeat offenders. To report suspected violations, call 311.

livestock and livestock
Livestock and farm animals rely on their humans to protect and protect them.

Have adequate food and water. Animals and livestock should have plentiful food and a constant supply of water. In extremely cold temperatures, the water freezes. You have to break ice or replace the frozen water.
Provide warm bedding. Make sure there is enough bedding for each animal.
Add extra lining. Animals must eat more in cold weather to provide additional calories for heat energy.

Plant
Plants may need to be covered or brought indoors to prevent frost damage.

Tube
San Antonio Water System reminds residents:

Slowly drip an internal faucet to keep the water moving in your pipes in the coldest temperatures.
If your home has ducting in closets on exterior walls without insulation, leave the closet doors open to allow warmer indoor air to circulate.
Cover and insulate outer pipes. Local hardware stores have foam insulation and faucet protectors, but wrapping pipes in rags or newspaper will do the trick.
Know where your meter shut-off valve is located. When pipes freeze, SAWS has created a video on turning off the water at the meter that you can watch in English or Spanish.

additional Information
CPS Energy crews are prepared to respond to local weather-related outages. High winds are in the forecast and CPS Energy is reminding residents to stay away from downed power lines and to report them at 210-353-4357 (HELP). Do not attempt to move or drive over the lines.

Residents can register for energy alerts online or call 210-353-2222. You can find more safety tips for the winter here.