This is Groundhog day and it's no joke! (I took this photograph in Switzerland a few years ago). Severe winter weather is in effect for a vast amount of North Central and Northeastern Texas. The streets in Flower Mound are already covered in icy rain. Predictions are for freezing rain, heavy mixed snow with up to two inches of ice, gusty winds likely to topple power lines and cut electrical power, wind and chills may result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken. The effect is NOW until TOMORROW late afternoon. Stay tuned to weather channels.
Areas affected include:
- Dallas
- Flower Mound
- Lewisville
- Irving
- Valley Ranch
- Fort Worth
- Argyle
- Carrollton
- Farmers Branch
- Coppell
- Lantana
- Double Oak
- Coppers Canyon
- Plano
- Frisco
- Allen
- Tarrant
- Denton
- Decatur
- Montague
- Cooke
- Grayson
- Fannin
- Lamar
- Young
- Jack
- Wise
- Collin
- Kaufman
- Forney
- Mesquite
- Sunnydale
- Segoville
- Rockwall
- Hunt
- Delta
- Hopkins
- Stephens
- Palo Pinto
- Parker
- Eastland
- Erath
- Hood
- Somervell
- Johnson
- Ellis
- Commanche
- Mills
- Hamilton
- Bosque
- Hill
- Lampasas
- Coryell
- Bowie
- Nocona
- Gainesville
- Sherman
- Denison
- Bonham
- Paris
- Graham
- Olney
- Jacksboro
- Bridgepoint
- Roanoke
- Justin
- McKinney
- Greenville,
- Allen
- Commerce
- Cooper
- Sulpher Springs
- Breckenridge
- Mineral Wells
- Weatherford
- Briar
- Arlington
- Heath
- Terrell
- Krum
- Forney
- Bedford
- Euless
- Hurst
- Cisco
- Eastland
- Ranger
- Gorman
- Stephenville
- Dublin
- Oak Trail Shores
- Oak Point
- Glen Rose
- Cleburne
- Burleson
- Waxahachie
- Ennis
- Midlothian
- Comanche
- De Leon
- Goldthwaite
- Hamilton
- Hico
- Clifton
- Meridian
- Valley Mills
- Little Elm
- Corinth
- Hillsboro
- Lampasas
- Copperas Cove
- Gatesville
- (including all other surrounding areas)
PLUMBERS ADVISORY ALERT FROM C&W PLUMBER
- Disconnect all outside hoses and insulate faucets with Styrofoam covers or wrap in towels or newspapers around outside faucets, securing with duct tape or rubber bands.
- Locate your home's water shut off valve and verify if you have access to it.
- Keep utilities and contact numbers handy
- Keep heat to any plumbing on outside walls as warm as possible.
- Open cabinets to let warm air flow
- Turn indoor faucets to slow stream
- For garage and attic access, a space heater can be used ONLY if safe and not near COMBUSTIBLES
- If you see water flow out of a fixture within your home but you don't see water leaking anywhere, water within the pipe is likely frozen.
- Don't panic.
- If you are seeing any water in your home, the water in pipe may be frozen but it doesn't necessarily mean the pipe is broken.
- Get heat to the area. If you suspect the water within a pipe is frozen, try to get as much heat as possible to the area with open cabinet doors, open faucets to allow air flow into pipe. Use a space heater ONLY if safe and don't leave Space Heaters unattended. Use blow dryers if necessary but don't let them overheat or unattended.
- If pipe is frozen, wait for ice to melt.
- Once ice melts, if a broken pipe exists, that is when the water will begin to flow and can cause flooding. As temperatures raise, keep an eye on areas that were frozen and watch for water leaking. Keep towels handy.
- If a leak is found after the area thaws, turn off water at your home's shut off valve.
- If you are unable to shut off valve, call utility department, city's non-emergency department, and local plumber can turn off the water.
My personal advice: If you have a memory foam gel mattress, do not sleep on it. Last year during the Ice Storm mine froze and I nearly froze to death.
Check on neighbors and seniors. If they don't answer the phone they may not have electricity. Stay off the roads and don't drive.
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