WINTER WEATHER RESOURCES

Dear Friends,

The National Weather Service has issued an alert warning that an Arctic cold front is expected to bring dangerously freezing temperatures and icy conditions over the weekend. It is important to prepare ahead of time. You will find federal, state, and local resources listed below. 

For assistance, please contact our Houston District Office at (713) 383-9234, Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Federal Resources

Prepare for winter conditions and find federal guidance on how to be safe before, during, & after winter storms & extreme cold by visiting ready.gov/winter-ready #WinterReady

Quick Safety Tips:

• Staying Warm Indoors

• When using space heaters or indoor warming equipment, follow these safety measures:
• Never leave the heater unattended –– make sure to unplug space heaters if leaving your home or at night when sleeping.
• Avoid health hazards –– make sure your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detectors are on and functioning.
• Space them out –– keep space heaters at least 3 feet from flammable objects, and keep away from children or pets.
• Plug heaters into standard wall outlets –– avoid using extension cords or surge protectors.

• Weatherizing Pipes

• Be sure to follow Houston Public Works' tips to protect your home during cold weather. Please also check in with elderly or disabled neighborhoods who may need assistance. We also encourage residents to locate their main water shut-off valve in case of emergency.
• Before Freezing Weather: Wrap exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home; remove garden hoses connected to outside faucets; turn off sprinkler systems and make sure they are not broken
• In Freezing Weather: Open cabinet doors under sinks next to outside walls. In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past
• Not Going to Be Home: Drain outside water faucets or leave home heating system on low

Additional Federal Resources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Disaster Assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Weather Service

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

• FEMA Disaster Assistance 1-800-621-3362
• Roadside Assistance 1-800-525-5555
• Texas Department of Emergency Management (512)-424-2208
• TxDOT statewide road closures 1-800-452-9292

Local Shelters and Warming Centers 

Brazoria County Warming Centers
City of Houston Warming Centers
Fort Bend County Warming Centers
Texas Division of Emergency Management Shelter and Season Relief Centers

Travel Safety 

• Monitor road conditions daily by visiting https://www.houstontranstar.org and be ready to adjust travel times.
• Statewide road conditions are available at https://drivetexas.org. 

Additional Local Resource Weblinks 

Brazoria County Office of Emergency Management
Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Houston Office of Emergency Management
Ready Harris

Additional State Resources 

Texas Health and Human Services (Disaster Assistance)
SNAP Benefit Replacement - English
Reemplazo de beneficios de SNAP - Espanol
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)

Utility Resources

CenterPoint Energy
AT&T Disaster Relief
CenterPoint Energy
Xfinity Outage Map
T-Mobile Community Support
Verizon Emergency Resource Center
Texas Public Utility Commission

Important National Assistance Phone Numbers

211—Community services and information (assistance with damages)
311—Municipal government services (report debris)
411—Directory assistance
511—Traffic information 
611—Phone company
711—TDD and Relay for the Deaf 
811—Call before you dig (Underground public utility location)
911—Emergency services (police, fire, EMS)