The Texas winter is barely at the midway mark but has already subjected Lone Star State residents to a prolonged Arctic outbreak – some areas of the state saw 80+ hours of sub-freezing temperatures – and torrential rain with some areas receiving more than 12 inches in a few days.
“It is no secret that it has been a rainy week in the Brazos Valley. Since Monday, round after round after round of rain has passed overhead. These repeated disturbances prompted multiple flooding concerns with some areas picking up a third of their average yearly rainfall in just three days,” reported KBTX.
All this rain came on the heels of the freeze damage for some residents and highlights the risks of severe winter in Texas and the need to winterize your home.
Texas is known for its heat with soaring summer temperatures around the state, but residents may want to invest in at least one ski cap because the state can see its share of severe winter weather.
“Ice storms, cold waves, hail, winter storms: Texas has them all. And the combination of these weather events leads to at least $754 million losses in Texas and $106.4 million losses in Dallas annually, according to the National Risk Index, a database maintained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” reported the publication Governing.
For those who think it's too late to winterize their home in 2024, keep in mind that winter weather can stretch into March and that the worst winter storm in Texas history, the Great Texas Freeze, saw cold air hit the state from Feb. 10 to Feb. 27 with the hard freeze warnings stretching for almost nine days.
“Though power outages occurred throughout the South, they were mostly concentrated in Texas. At the peak of the outage, nearly 10 million people were in the dark, lacking warmth and the ability to cook food. The freeze also caused water pipes to burst and boil water advisories were issued in many counties,” reported NOAA. “Freezing precipitation developed throughout the state on February 15, creating thin layers of imperceptible ice on roadways. Cars slid off of freeways and streets resulting in accidents, including a pile-up of over 100 vehicles on I-35 West in Fort Worth, leaving several fatalities in its wake. Due to the impassable roads and state-wide blackout, there were also shortages at grocery stores.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported the death toll at over 200 lives.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the key to staying safe during the winter is to prepare, something many people fail to do.
“Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us may not be ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you are more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall,” says the CDC.
The CDC says to prepare your home, do the following:
Proper weatherization of your home can not only pay off by lowering your energy costs and prolonging your HVAC systems, but it can also help prevent damage when severe winter weather hits.
“Weatherizing a home does more than save on energy costs — it can help prepare a home for when it gets too hot or too cold. According to the energy research hub HARC, many Texas homes during the historic February 2021 freeze had improper insulation, which allowed a substantial amount of heat to escape and caused indoor temperatures to quickly drop during the widespread blackouts,” reported The Courier.
The article recommends the following weatherization tips:
It’s also important to make sure you have the proper home insurance coverage in case of winter weather damage. Contact Dean & Draper Insurance today to explore customized policies that will protect you and your family.
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