Snow, ice and temperatures plunging below freezing are expected to hit Dallas Fort Worth this weekend, beginning Friday evening and extending through Monday morning. We’ve got solid advice below to keep you, your family and your pets safe and warm, to help you prepare for the possibility of power outages, to plan to take steps to prevent pipes from freezing and to make sure you have plenty of supplies, food and water on hand.
Here are a few tips to keep you safe and warm:
If Power Goes Out
If your power goes out, contact Oncor through its website: Outage Reporting and Status. You can also call 888-313-4747 or text OUT to 66267 if you are registered for MyOncorAlerts. Report downed power lines to Oncor and check the utility’s outage map (Oncor – Outage Map) for updates.
Staying Safe During Winter Weather
Prepare yourself and look out for one another during winter weather:
- Dress warmly in layers, wear a hat, mittens, and waterproof boots.
- Be cautious when performing strenuous tasks in cold temperatures.
- Check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly, have disabilities, or are children.
- Ensure your pets have shelter and access to unfrozen water.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
Heat your Home Safely
To reduce the risk of heating-related fires, here are some safety tips:
- Keep heaters away from children, pets, and flammable materials.
- Place space heaters on a level, nonflammable surface.
- Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended.
- Do not use cooking ranges or ovens for heating.
- Turn off portable space heaters when not in use.
You can find additional helpful information here: Emergency Management and Crisis Response Winter Weather Preparedness
If you or someone you know needs a place to get out of the cold, here is a list of warming shelters across North Texas: Warming centers open across DFW during weekend winter storm - CultureMap Dallas
Please join us in praying for those who are homeless or may need shelter from the extreme cold. Ministry partners are reaching out to those in need to help them find shelter, including:
- Our Calling: Homepage | OurCalling,
- Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission Dallas
- Southern Baptists of Texas: Disaster Relief | Volunteer Resources - Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
- Texans on Mission: Texans on Mission