Houston area prepares for freezing weather, chance of snow

In their words

• "We're continuing to monitor the severe cold weather expected across the communities we serve in Texas. We're keeping a particularly close watch on the potential for a major winter storm that could impact the Greater Houston area beginning on MLK Day and into next week," said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint's Meteorology Manager and member of CenterPoint's Emergency Preparedness and Response team in a Jan. 16 news release. "We will continue to actively monitor the models for any severe weather and urge our customers to stay alert in anticipation of quickly changing weather conditions."
• "The City of Houston is closely monitoring the forecast and is prepared for the expected cold weather and possible precipitation," the city of Houston Office of Emergency Management officials said in a news release. "We’re coordinating with Mayor John Whitmire, the Houston Police Department, U.S. National Weather Service Houston-Galveston, Texas and other partners throughout the week to review response plans and ensure our city is prepared."
• "[Montgomery County] Judge [Mark] Keough has directed our office to make immediate preparations for the potential winter storm that could hit next week. We are in the process of pre-deploying supplies and assets around the county and working with our public safety agencies and the Commissioners' offices to maximize preparedness," the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said in a Jan. 16 update.
• "Entergy Texas continues to actively monitor the frigid temperatures and winter precipitation expected to move through Texas early next week. While forecasts are continually changing and the exact impact to the Entergy Texas service area is hard to predict, crews are prepared to respond to whatever Mother Nature delivers," Entergy Texas said in a Jan. 16 news release.

As of press time, no official freeze warnings have been issued for the Houston area. However, residents are urged to make sure pipes, pets and plants are all protected as necessary from freezing weather. Some tips to also stay warm during the cold weather include:

• Do not leave space heaters unattended during use
• Do not use stoves, cooking ranges or ovens to heat a home
• Keep children at least three feet away from heating sources
• Do not use generators or grills indoors for heat or power