Kerr County Emergency Management offers tips for winter months

Kerr County officials are reminding residents to prepare their homes for the upcoming winter months.  “In our area, we generally don’t have to deal with the problems that come with snow,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas.  “But, as anyone who was here during “Snowmageddon” in 2021 (Winter Storm Uri) can tell you, an ice Storm can cause some serious issues – whether you live out in the rural parts of the county on a farm or ranch, or you live inside city limits.”

~ Minimize the risk of frozen/broken pipes.  When a hard freeze is predicted, leave faucets running at a trickle, leave all cabinet doors open and make sure all windows and exterior doors are closed.

~ Never use an oven or a gas stovetop as a heating source for your home.

~ Only use generators and grills outside and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors or attached garages.  Keep generators dry and protected from rain or flooding.  Touching a wet generator or devices connected to a wet generator can cause electric shock.  Also, use heavy-duty extension cords when connecting appliances to a generator.  Let a generator cool down before refueling, because fuel spilled on a hot engine can ignite a fire.

~ Check smoke detectors/carbon monoxide alarms.

~ All external vents for clothes dryers and other natural gas appliances or equipment should be clear.

~ Avoid using ice-melting chemicals, salt, shovels or sharp-edged tools.

~ Keep a storage of extra batteries for radios and flashlights.

~ Do a walk-through of the home to take inventory and follow through by caulking, weather stripping and adding insulation to areas in need.

~ Gather supplies in case there is a need to stay home for several days without power.

~ If a person thinks they smell gas, leave the area immediately before calling 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number at (866) 322-8667.

~ Try to maintain keeping your vehicles’ tanks full of gas throughout the winter months.

~ If possible, stay off the roads during a severe weather event.

~ Limit any time spent outside if there is an extreme Cold weather system underway.

“It’s just better to play it on the safe side when it comes to you, your family and your home,” said Thomas.  For more information regarding safety and energy saving tips, visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/ways-to-save/appliance-rebates/.