Pets, plants, pipes and more: How to prepare for this week’s freeze

The Austin area is in for a cold holiday weekend. Temperatures will start dropping on Thursday afternoon into the teens and stay there until Saturday, at least.

As the state prepares for this severe weather event, you should prepare, too.

Is your emergency bag ready?

Austin emergency officials recommend having an emergency supply kit ready to go in case you’re stuck at home or need to evacuate.

Be sure to include things like a basic first aid kit, extra cash, home and car keys, clothes, emergency contact info, pet supplies, chargers, water, non-perishable food and hygiene items. A full list of recommendations from the city can be found here.

Pets get cold, too

Dogs, cats and livestock like goats, cattle and horses can get just as cold as people when freezing temperatures roll in. Morgan Siewert with Austin Pets Alive! said animals with little to no fur are even more vulnerable.

“We should limit their time outside, especially if they’re kind of shorter-coated dogs, smaller dogs,” she said. “If you’re bundled up and a little chilly, they are probably also a little chilly.”

For outdoor cats, try putting down some dry material like straw or Styrofoam for them to lie on, as opposed to a blanket. And be sure to check on and refill any outdoor water bowls pets drink out of.

Preserve your plants

Texas A&M AgriLife recommends watering all of your plants before the freeze hits. Move plants inside if you can. If you can’t bring them in, move them to the south side of the house, water them and pile on mulch, leaves or hay to protect the roots.

Covering your plants is also an option. You can drape them with cardboard, cloth or plastic, but secure it to the ground. That’ll help trap warm air and keep it from escaping.

Pipes need protecting

Water expands when it freezes, and pipes aren’t designed to accommodate that, Brad Casebier, CEO of Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning, told KUT in 2021. If you have outdoor faucets or pipes that are exposed, wrap and insulate them to prevent them from bursting.

He recommends knowing your home before the freeze makes its way into the region. That’s especially important this weekend as plumbing businesses might be closed for the holiday.

“Even if you don’t have an active leak, go figure out how you’re going to shut your (water off0,” Casebier said. “And then when it happens, then you’re prepared and you’re not in a complete panic trying to get that done.”

It’s still good practice to drip your pipes, but Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management recommends dripping only one faucet when temps drop below freezing.

Open cabinets beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes.

Cold weather travel

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport says it’s prepared to handle the cold weather.

The airport is responsible for the state of the roads and runways around the airport, but it’s up to the airlines to determine whether a flight flies, said Sam Haynes, an airport spokesperson.

“We’re not expecting any ice accumulation or any snow,” she said. “It’s just going to be very cold outside. So the cold weather is really not going to have a significant impact on the roadways or the airfield. We may see the roadways around the airport, the highways kind of start to back up with congestion – not necessarily due to the weather, but just because so many people are heading out of town for the holidays.”

It’s best to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport and give yourself extra time.

This story was produced as part of the Austin Monitor’s reporting partnership with KUT.

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