The Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is monitoring a cold front that is expected to move through our area this evening. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), cold temperatures and low wind chills will develop Wednesday morning and continue through Friday morning. Wednesday night through Thursday morning will be the coldest period of the forecast, with wind chills in the low 20s possible. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect for Thursday morning, which means dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible. Residents should monitor the latest forecast daily and remain weather aware.

Warming Center Information:
Partners in Harris County will open warming centers beginning Wednesday evening. People needing transportation to a warming center can call 3-1-1 for assistance. Visit the Overnight Warming Centers map for location information and hours of operation updates.

Protect the “Four P’s”: People, pets, pipes, and plants.

People:
• Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
• Add layers to help keep you warm as the temperature drops.
• Check in with elderly family and neighbors to see if they need help.

Pets:
• Bring pets inside and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
• Keep adequate food and water available.

Pipes:
• Protect any exposed outdoor pipes

Plants:
• Bring potted plants inside or store them in a garage near the interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
• For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering them with a cloth or fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.

Heater Safety:
Portable space heaters are often used to heat rooms and homes. If not used properly, they can cause fires, severe injuries, and death. If using a portable heater, remember these important safety tips:

• Keep heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including furniture, carpets, curtains, and people.
• Place heaters on solid, non-flammable surfaces.
• Never block exits with a heater and keep them out of the way of foot traffic.
• Keep children away from heaters.
• Always plug heaters directly into wall outlets – NEVER use an extension cord.
• Turn off and unplug space heaters when leaving a room or going to bed.

Follow local media for forecast updates and stay informed on how to prepare for extreme cold weather by following HCOHSEM updates atReadyHarris.org, on social media, and by signing up for ReadyHarris Alerts or ReadyHarris Accessible Alerts.

H20 Innovation staff will be mobilized and standing by to deal with water main breaks and water plant issues. If you experience a pipe freeze on your side of your water meter outside your home, H20 can only turn your water off at the meter. If you have a pipe broken inside your home, you can isolate your private cut off usually located on the side of your home below your water spigot. Or inside the garage. It’s a good idea to have the names of a couple of plumbers should you need them. As H2O does not repair homeowner private water lines.

Freeze Preparation Tips

• Wrap outdoor and garage pipes.
• Remove water hoses and wrap water spigot.
• Drain and turn off sprinklers system.
• Turn off water to your washer if in garage.
• If you leave your house before a freeze, turn off the water at your private cut off valve and leave your heat on.

Protect your pipes when it freezes!

• Open cabinets under sinks to let your house’s heat warm the pipes.
• If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at your private cut off valve. This prevents broken pipes from leaking into house after they thaw.
• Let faucets drip from the cold and hot taps or run water through your indoor faucets before you go to sleep.

To report road and curb damage or storm sewer manhole and pipe damage please contact Harris County Prect. 3.

Louetta Road Utility District “LRUD” Residents:

You may have noticed a reddish tint or slight odor in your drinking water when the District switched its potable source from surface water to ground water for the summer. This is due to iron and manganese which are naturally occurring elements found in rocks and minerals in deep wells . Please note that iron and manganese do not pose a health risk in drinking water and are secondary constituents that are voluntarily measured for aesthetic purposes. To improve its ground water quality, the LRUD Board of Directors voted to implement blended phosphate treatment at the Water Plant in May of 2024 (Blended Phosphates are water treatment chemicals commonly used in drinking water to prevent discoloration, staining, scaling, taste, and odor). An application for water plant treatment modifications was submitted to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality for review and approval. Once approved, the District will begin injecting blended phosphates at the feed line to improve ground water quality.

PS: For more information regarding secondary constituents, please reference the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Drinking Water Standards Chapter 290.118(a) Applicability for Secondary Constituents, or the United States Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Drinking Water Standards.

This is a reminder, as part of the maintenance of the water distribution system we will be converting to free chlorine starting the week of January 22. THE DISINFECTANT CHANGE FROM CHLORAMINES TO CHLORINE REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE FOR AT HOME DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND AQUARIUM OWNERS.