If you’re in need of food, housing, a warming center, or help with your mental health during these difficult conditions, dial 2-1-1 or visit their website for help.

You can also call or text the national Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

The high winds, freezing temperatures, and icy conditions moving across Texas are already having a direct impact on travel. As the extreme weather continues, state authorities encourage you to only venture out if necessary. If you must travel, be sure to check the road and weather conditions, use caution on the roadways, and drive slowly. For more information on specific road conditions and winter-weather driving tips, check out resources from TxDOT here.

If you or a neighbor are without power, please contact your local utility provider as soon as possible to report the outage. A comprehensive list of Texas utility providers as well as outage maps and phone numbers to report outages are available here.  

If you see downed power lines in your area, do not approach them as they may still be live and can cause severe injury or death. Instead, contact your local utility provider and report the damage. You can find additional resources about downed lines here.

• If you have lost power due to the storm, unplug electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges, keep refrigerators and freezers closed, close off rooms to avoid wasting heat, wear layers of warm clothing, avoid caffeine and alcohol, and stuff towels or rags in cracks under your doors. (Source)
• If you have a generator, place it outdoors, away from windows, and at least 15 feet away from your home. Point the exhaust away from your home, keep it dry and properly grounded, install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home, and never plug your generator into a wall outlet or main electrical panel. (Source)
• Make sure to bring your pets inside the house or garage and keep them away from any alternate heating sources to avoid burns. (Source)
• When shoveling snow, keep a steady pace and take breaks as necessary – overexertion can bring on a heart attack. (Source)
• If you’re able to, avoid driving. If you are unable to stay home, slow down, maintain at least three times the normal following distance, stay at least 200 feet behind snow plows, and use extra caution on bridges, ramps, and overpasses. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of the skid. Never walk on the highway as drivers could lose control and hit you. (Source)