Welcome to Winter Storm Gerri, and That’s Not a Dallas Cowboys Reference

Dallas football fans might have tuned into the Chiefs vs. Dolphins game Saturday night, anticipating their Cowboys’ own play-off game on Sunday, but many more tuned into the local news to see Winter Storm Gerri* in full effect. With the freezing temperatures undoubtedly here and potential hazards on the horizon, CandysDirt.com has compiled a comprehensive guide to help you deal with the winter onslaught.
* That’s the correct spelling. We just couldn’t help the Jerry (Jones) reference in an earlier headline.

Firstly, we want to share our public news sources with you so that you can continue to track and get information immediately. That might have seemed unusual five years ago, but after the deadly winter storm of 2021, we as Texans learned information is power. Here are a few places to find info on Winter Storm Gerri:

How to Monitor the Texas Grid Conditions

Here’s a mother of all dashboards for Real-Time System Conditions of our Texas energy grid. Specifically in the first chart shown above about supply and demand, the numbers to look at are “Demand” and “Available Capacity.” If you’re looking at the older chart, it’ll say “Actual System Demand” and “Total System Capacity.”

If you’re interested, you can compare these numbers with 2021’s emergency conditions.

Answers to Your Exasperated Winter Weather Power Outage Questions

In addition, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has a real-time map of power outages throughout the state, shown below.

Did you have a heart attack? Me too. But in a stroke of poor map titling, the colors on this map indicate service area boundaries and NOT electricity outages.

Other resources such as Oncor are usually great about posting frequent social media updates, like this post to X, formerly called Twitter.

#OncorWeatherCurrent Update – A wind chill advisory is in place for many TX communities from Sat. night until Tue. morning. @KaitiBlake says wind chills will be below 0 or in the single digits. Put safety first in cold weather: dress in layers & cover exposed skin. #dfwwx #txwx pic.twitter.com/vAdyBid5NM

— Oncor (@oncor) January 14, 2024

Winter Tips for Your Home

What To Do If Your Pipes Freeze

We know the connection between freezing temperatures, power outages, and all hell breaking loose on your home plumbing. But here are a few things to learn and remember:

Not all frozen pipes will burst, especially if the pipe is thawed safely and quickly.

To thaw pipes:

• Make sure to open the tap before you attempt to thaw a pipe. If you don’t, the water pressure in the pipe may increase to the point where it will burst.
• Use a hairdryer, heating pad, or space heater to warm and thaw the water in the frozen pipe. You can even use warm towels to gradually thaw pipes. Never use a torch or open flame to thaw pipes.
• If you think your pipes are frozen and may burst, call a plumber immediately. The sooner you address a frozen pipe at risk of bursting, the better chance you have of mitigating water damage.

Last week Brenda Masse offered us an in-depth round-up of the best home plumbing tips we’ve offered over the years, including how to check for burst pipes on your water meter, tips for protecting your pool, and find a few facepalms that home inspectors have seen over the years.

Tips for dealing with frozen plumbing from the Dallas Builders Association, include

• Importance of cutting off water to the house to minimize damage
• Identifying shut-off valves and dealing with frozen pipes in different scenarios
• At the 04:00 minute mark, you’ll find helpful information for dealing with frozen tankless hot water heaters

Taking Care of Yourself During Winter Storm Gerri

Emergency Supplies
Stock up on essential items such as blankets, non-perishable food, and bottled water in case of power outages or transportation disruptions. Being prepared can make a significant difference during unexpected events.

Safe Driving Practices
If travel is unavoidable, exercise caution on icy roads. Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready with antifreeze, good tires, and a full tank of gas. You can stay updated on road conditions with the Texas DOT travel map, but often your best bets are maps with real-time traffic like Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze.

Pet Care
Remember to consider your furry friends. Bring pets indoors during extreme cold, or provide them with adequate weather-protected shelter, food, and water if they must stay outside.