At long last, winter has arrived in Lincoln County. However, with drops in the temperature come a plethora of issues if not prepared. Temperatures plummeted into the teens on Sunday and Monday morning. According to the Natural Weather Service out of Norman, Sunday’s temps were due to a strong cold front, bringing in northerly winds. Wind chills ranged from single digits in the north up to the low 30s across northern Texas. Small flurries sprung up in parts of the county on Sunday afternoon.
Lincoln County Emergency Management encouraged people not to forget about pets during the cold snap. They recommended bringing them in at night and putting on a sweater or coat. They also urged that pet owners provide some sort of warm and dry shelter if they aren’t bringing pets inside.
OG&E released a set of winter weather tips on Jan. 3 in preparation. It said to stay weather aware and closely monitor local news or weather apps. It’s also a good idea to check road conditions before heading out. It also said to make sure you have a plan in place should the weather take a turn for the worse. Prep your home as best as you can. Replace or clean filters on furnac es, clean warm-air registers and baseboard heaters. Caulk expansion joints and minor wall cracks while checking windows and doors for any air leaks. Also, be sure to insulate water heaters in uninsulated areas.
OG&E also recommends having an emergency kit ready - one should be in a vehicle and another in the house. Fully charge all devices and be sure to dress warmly and in layers. Should the worst happen and power go out during a winter storm, it recommends opening curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun naturally warm the space and closing them at night. If using heaters, make sure they are in non-flammable spaces. Also, don’t use a gas range or charcoal for indoor heating.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends keeping thermostats set to no lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit when the mercury drops to freezing outside. Walls are often cooler, so keeping temps at 65 or higher ensures that pipes won’t freeze.
Open hot and cold faucets to let water drip. Keeping water moving through pipes can also help prevent freezing. Check that fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are working properly and that there are no combustible items nearby. Additionally, keep the flue closed when not using fireplaces. The III also recommends asking a neighbor to check on the house if away for long periods of time.
In the event a pipe freezes, III recommends trying to thaw it out before it bursts, either by yourself or by calling a plumber. If a pipe does burst, first turn off the water to limit damage, then focus on cleaning up the water and repairing any damage.
The National Weather Service highly recommends keeping homes, offices and vehicles stocked with emergency items, such as extra blankets, phone chargers and power banks. Specifically for cars, it’s good to have jumper cables and a tool kit. For the home, the biggest concern is losing power. The weather service recommends having flashlights and extra batteries, extra food and water, a batterypowered radio, an emergency heating source, and extra pet food and shelter for furry friends.