Greater Houston area prepares for potential winter storm

Residents are encouraged to stock up on batteries, nonperishable goods and bottled water in case of any extended power outages.

“While we hope for the best, the city is planning for the worst,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in an announcement on social media. "Starting Saturday at noon, arctic freeze conditions could last up to 48 hours. Residents should prepare now by wrapping exposed pipes and, if possible, shutting off water and draining pipes by Saturday afternoon.”

Whitmire confirmed the city will also be opening 12 warming centers starting Jan. 24-27, but he has not released a list of where the centers will be located as of press time.

What’s being done

According to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office, crews are prepping for any response needed due to the weather.

“Our brine trucks are prepped for the upcoming cold weather, ensuring that when the cold drops, our team is ready to hit the pavement and keep the roads safe,” officials with Ramsey’s office said in a social media post.

Local energy companies CenterPoint Energy and Entergy Texas announced they have also begun winterization efforts ahead of the forecast.

• “Our CenterPoint teams are mobilized, performing pre-storm checks, and ready to respond to winter weather conditions on both the electric and gas systems,” said Don Daigler, CenterPoint’s senior vice president of emergency preparedness and response. “We have activated the company’s Emergency Operations Center and are coordinating with government and industry stakeholders to be ready to respond to any impacts from the forecasted conditions, including icy weather, strong winds, and wintry precipitation.”
• “Our teams are ready and closely monitoring conditions. We’re adjusting resources based on the latest forecasts to help ensure reliable service,” Entergy officials said in a Jan. 20 news release. “Each year, before temperatures drop, we prepare our system through proactive winterization efforts.”

With the forecast, a number of events have already been postponed, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo annual job fair.

Events that have been delayed so far include:

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Job Fair: postponed to Feb. 1, 1-5 p.m.
• Tomball ISD Rodeo Art Show: postponed to Feb. 7, noon
• Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Ball: postponed to Feb. 20, 6-11 p.m.