Freeze Prep Guide
Austin may be warm most of the year, but arctic cold fronts — locally called "blue northers" — can drop temperatures 30–40°F in hours. After Winter Storm Uri showed what a prolonged freeze can do, every Austin household should be prepared. Here's your complete checklist.
Before the Freeze
Pipes & Plumbing
- Insulate exposed pipes in attics, garages, and along exterior walls with foam sleeves.
- Locate your main water shut-off valve — know how to turn it off in an emergency.
- Disconnect and drain all outdoor garden hoses.
- Cover outdoor faucets (hose bibs) with insulated faucet covers ($3–5 at hardware stores).
- If you have a sprinkler system, run the winterize/blow-out cycle.
Plants & Landscaping
- Cover tender plants with frost cloth or old bedsheets — not plastic (traps moisture).
- Move potted tropicals (citrus, plumeria, bougainvillea) into the garage or indoors.
- Water deeply 24–48 hours before the freeze — moist soil holds heat better than dry.
- Mulch heavily around base of sensitive plants (4–6 inches).
- Do NOT prune freeze-damaged plants until spring — dead foliage insulates the crown.
Pets & Animals
- Bring ALL pets indoors when temps drop below 32°F — no exceptions.
- Outdoor water bowls freeze quickly; check and refresh with warm water every few hours.
- Wipe paws after walks — ice melt chemicals are toxic to pets.
- Provide extra bedding in garages for feral cat shelters (cardboard box + straw, not blankets).
Emergency Supplies
- Stock 3+ days of water (1 gallon per person per day).
- Fill your car with gas before the freeze — stations lose power during outages.
- Charge all devices, battery packs, and portable chargers to 100%.
- Have flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio ready.
- Stock non-perishable food that doesn't require cooking (canned goods, peanut butter, crackers).
- Keep a manual can opener — electric ones are useless during power outages.
- Refill any prescriptions before the storm hits.
Home & Power
- Set thermostat to at least 68°F before the freeze — your home is a thermal battery.
- Seal drafts around windows and doors with towels, weatherstripping, or plastic film.
- Know where your breaker panel is and how to reset tripped breakers.
- If you have a fireplace, stock firewood and ensure the flue is open and functional.
- NEVER run generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors — carbon monoxide kills silently.
Vehicle Prep
- Check antifreeze levels and tire pressure (drops ~1 PSI per 10°F).
- Keep an emergency kit in the car: blanket, water, snacks, phone charger, flashlight.
- Austin bridges and overpasses freeze first — avoid elevated roadways when icy.
- If you must drive on ice, go extremely slow — Austin drivers are not accustomed to winter conditions.
During the Freeze
Keep thermostat steady — don't lower it at night.
Resist the urge to save energy by lowering heat. Consistent warmth prevents pipe freezes. Keep all interior doors open so heat circulates evenly.
Drip both hot and cold faucets when temps hit 28°F.
A slow, steady drip — not a stream — keeps water moving in pipes. Focus on faucets along exterior walls. Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach pipes.
If power goes out: conserve heat immediately.
Close off unused rooms. Hang blankets over windows. Gather everyone into one room. Use body heat, sleeping bags, and layered clothing. Open faucets to a drip if pipes might freeze.
Never use open flames for indoor heating.
Gas ovens, charcoal grills, propane heaters, and generators produce carbon monoxide. More Texans die from CO poisoning during freezes than from the cold itself. If you must use a fireplace, keep the flue open.
Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
Austin has zero salt trucks and minimal sand supplies. Black ice is invisible on bridges and overpasses. If you must drive, keep a charged phone and emergency supplies in the car.
Check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable people.
Elderly residents, people without cars, and those in older homes without insulation are most at risk. A quick text or knock could save a life.
After the Freeze
Inspect for pipe damage
Walk your property and check for wet spots, dripping sounds, or unusually low water pressure. Check under sinks, in the attic, and around the water heater. If you find a burst pipe, shut off the main water valve immediately.
Thaw pipes slowly
If a pipe is frozen but hasn't burst, thaw it gradually with a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use an open flame. Start from the faucet end and work toward the frozen section. Keep the faucet open so melting water can flow out.
Wait before pruning plants
Freeze-damaged plants often look dead but recover from the roots. Wait until mid-March to assess damage. Cut back dead growth only when you see new growth emerging at the base. Native plants like Mexican Honeysuckle and Esperanza almost always come back.
Document damage for insurance
Photograph all damage before making repairs. Contact your homeowner's insurance — most policies cover burst pipe damage. Keep receipts for emergency repairs. File claims as soon as possible.
Schedule a plumber early
After major freezes, plumbers are booked for weeks. Call immediately if you suspect any damage. Many Austin plumbers offer free freeze-damage inspections.
Emergency Resources
Austin 3-1-1
Non-emergency city services, road conditions, and warming center locations.
📞 3-1-1
Austin Energy Outage Map
Real-time power outage tracking and estimated restoration times.
Austin Water
Boil-water notices, water main breaks, and conservation alerts.
📞 512-972-1000
City of Austin Emergency
Official emergency information, shelter locations, and road closures.
TxDOT Road Conditions
Statewide highway conditions, bridge closures, and travel advisories.
ERCOT Grid Status
Texas power grid supply/demand dashboard and conservation appeals.
Austin Freeze History
Winter Storm Uri
Record low of -2°F. 120+ hours below freezing. 4.5 million Texans lost power. City-wide boil-water notice for 8 days.
Ice Storm
Heavy freezing rain coated Central Texas. 150,000+ lost power in Travis County. Schools closed for a week.
Winter Storm Elliott
Christmas Eve arctic blast dropped temps to 12°F. Wind chill near -5°F. Brief but intense — most power stayed on due to ERCOT grid improvements.
Hard Freeze
Lows of 22°F for two consecutive nights. Significant plant damage across Central Texas. Widespread pipe bursts in older homes.
Super Bowl Freeze
Rolling blackouts during Super Bowl XLV week. Lows of 17°F. First major sign of ERCOT grid vulnerability.