Extreme Cold

Check on family, friends and neighbors who may need help preparing, particularly older adults and people who live alone.

If you are cold, so are they. Make sure their food and water doesn’t freeze.

Use frost cloths, old sheets or burlap to shield outdoor plants from frost. Water them thoroughly before the freeze hits, as hydrated plants resist cold dehydration damage better than dry ones. Move potted plants indoors or into a garage.

Use foam pipe insulation, heat tape or other insulating materials to cover exposed outdoor pipes, including those in attics, crawl spaces or garages.

Remove and store garden hoses. Install faucet covers or use foam insulation to protect exterior faucets.

Only drip faucets in areas where pipes are more exposed to freezing, like those along exterior walls or in unheated garages or attics. Turn the faucet on just enough for water to drip once every few seconds, not a stream. For single-handle faucets, leave it in the "warm" position to keep both hot and cold water flowing. For two-handle faucets, open both sides slightly.

Place a container under the drip to use the water for other purposes.

Open doors under sinks to allow warmer air to reach plumbing.

Know where your shutoff valve is in case a pipe bursts, so you can quickly stop the water flow.

If you do have to go outside, wear layers of lightweight, warm clothing, and immediately change into dry clothes when coming back inside.

Only drive if necessary. Let others know where and when you’ll be traveling, and keep your gas tank near full to stay warm in case you can’t get back home.

When the freeze is over, check for leaks indoors and outdoors. A quick repair can prevent further water loss and damage.