(AMA Guide) Prepare for Extreme Winter Weather

Do not wait for it to get cold outside to start getting ready. The City of Austin offers a simple framework to help you cover the basics before a freeze hits: the 4 P's — People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.

What to know

• People: dress in layers before going outside; never heat your home with a generator, grill, or fuel-burning device — these produce deadly carbon monoxide

• Pets: bring them inside

• Pipes: insulate or cover exposed pipes, turn off outside faucets, drip one faucet if needed

• Plants: cover them or bring them in

Details

Work through the 4 P's before temperatures drop. For People, dress in layers any time you go outside, and remember that generators, grills, camp stoves, and any gasoline, propane, or charcoal-burning device produce deadly carbon monoxide — never run them indoors or in any enclosed space. For Pets, bring them inside where it is warm. For Pipes, insulate or cover any exposed outdoor pipes, disconnect hoses, turn off outside faucets, and drip just one faucet inside if needed to keep water moving. For Plants, cover them with a blanket or bring them inside.

Get ready now, before the freeze arrives.