If you lived in the area February 2021 chances are you or someone you knew went without power for quite some time. Frigid conditions left us with the realization that the majority of us Texans are not prepared for such conditions. Neither is our home.
If Mother Nature throws another polar blast our way and we lose, here are a few tips to keep you warm and safe.
Keep extra towels and blankets in a easy to access location. Roll them tightly and place along the bottom of all your doors and windows to keep cold air from coming into your home. They will also soak up any condensation or moisture as the temperature in the house changes.
Keep every door that opens to an exterior wall or room with a window closed. The goal is to stop cold air from free flowing around the house.
Encourage everyone in the home to stay in one room as much as possible. When you have multiple people in one room your body will naturally start to radiate heat. It may not be much but every little step will help keep you warm. Be sure to pick the smallest room with the least exterior walls, windows and doors. Keeping the door closed will help trap in the heat.
If you are not familiar with camping, tents are created to help hold the body heat inside the tent. Pop up a tent in the bedroom, living room or game room. If you have a two story pick a room upstairs. Remember, heat rises. You can also use extra quilts and sleeping bags to make a tent or fort.
Another way to stay warm is dressing in layers. Be sure your first layer is not cotton. Cotton will soak up your sweat and make you colder. Use a moisture wicking material. Somewhere between 3-5 layers will suffice. Base layers, middle layer and an outer layer. Then have a heavy coat, beanie, gloves and a scarf to top it all off. Wool socks will help keep your feet warmer than your athletic style socks. Remember, cotton will keep you cool as you sweat. If you’re cold, cotton is not what you want as a base layer.
Now for the Debbie downer, stay away from alcohol. Sounds mean but alcohol actually lowers your body temperature. Yes, it may make you feel flush which tricks your body into thinking your warm. Plus Alcohol is dehydrating. You need to stay hydrated if you see facing harsh temperatures.
If you are lucky enough to have a gas stove, put a large stock pot of water on to boil, once hot, turn on to low. This way you can have hot water for tea and coffee. The steam will also add some humidity in the air.
If your concerned about the food in your fridge and freezer, throw the perishables in a cooler then place in the garage or back patio. Remember, the more you open the fridge and freezer the warmer it will get on the inside.
Hopefully we will never have to experience another Ice Megaddon and chaotic power outage anytime soon. If we do, I hope these suggestions are useful and make you a bit more comfortable.
