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Severe winter events have taught us to be prepared for anything
The most predictable thing about winter in Texas: It’s unpredictable. Although average temperatures in the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative region rarely drop below freezing, severe winter events have taught us to be prepared for anything. Take these steps to stay safe and prepare your family and home for an unexpected winter-weather emergency.
1. Create a communication plan
• Your family may not be together
when severe weather hits, so create a plan that includes everyone’s role during an emergency.
• Discuss how you will stay in touch with one another.
• Do not rely on cellphones alone,
as service could be lost.
• Create “know your number” contact cards for everyone’s wallet or bag and consider having an out-of-area emergency contact who won’t be affected by the weather.
• Make a plan to regroup at a designated place.
• Decide who is responsible for household pets’ safety.
2. Download apps and save website URLs
• Federal Emergency Management Agency, fema.gov, and American Red Cross, redcross.org, provide emergency notifications and information
about shelters, first aid and recovery assistance.
• The National Weather Service at
weather.gov (type in your area), local
weather apps, the Weather Channel at weather.com, AccuWeather at accuweather.com and WeatherBug at weatherbug.com provide local and regional forecasts and alerts.
• The Texas Department of Emergency Management at tdem.texas.gov has
safety and weather information.
• Drive Texas, drivetexas.org, has
road-closure information.
3. Stock up on supplies
• Store at least a three-day supply
of non-perishable or canned food items and water, one gallon per person
for each day.
• Make a winter-weather emergency kit that includes blankets, extra warm clothes, sleeping bags, a first-aid kit, portable lights, a cell phone charger and walkie-talkies with extra batteries.
• Keep your gas tank full, and stock your vehicle with items such as a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a towrope and an ice scraper.
4. Prepare your home
• Check heating systems; insulate and seal doors, windows, cracks or holes; repair any roof damage; and clear gutters.
• Secure lightweight outdoor items that could blow away.
• Cut tree branches near or hanging over your roof.
• Ahead of severe weather, insulate exposed pipes, drain outdoor water systems and keep water moving in indoor pipes by dripping all faucets.
• Store a fire extinguisher in a place you can easily reach.
For more tips to stay safe this winter and save money on your electric bill, go here.
Local shelters
The Texas Division of Emergency Management updates a list of available shelters across the state of Texas every hour. If you or someone you know needs a warm place to stay during extreme cold weather, visit tdem.texas.gov/warm to find an available shelter near you.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and LCRA representatives present a $23,819 grant to the Prairie Hill-Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department for new vehicle extrication tools. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kyle Merten, Bluebonnet's Brenham-area community representative; Robert Mikeska, Bluebonnet Board secretary/treasurer and member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA board member; Doyle Dahmann, VFD fire chief; Douglas Zwiener, VFD deputy fire chief and chief financial officer; Ron Arnold, VFD firefighter; and Kate Ramzinski, LCRA regional affairs representative.
The Prairie Hill-Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department will soon purchase its first set of battery-operated vehicle extrication tools, thanks to a $23,819 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, combined with $5,955 in matching funds from the VFD, will equip firefighters with new rechargeable tools that will enable firefighters to reach people trapped in vehicles more quickly and efficiently.
“This is a project we’ve been working toward for several years,” said Douglas Zwiener, deputy fire chief and chief financial officer of the Prairie Hill-Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department. “While we’ve been fortunate to rely on the Brenham Fire Department for extrication tools, having our own equipment will enable us to respond faster and more efficiently to emergencies in the northeastern part of Washington County. Every second matters in critical situations, and these tools will greatly enhance our ability to serve our community.”
Founded in 1959 by local farmers, the Prairie Hill-Rocky Hill VFD has grown into a multi-apparatus department that provides essential fire suppression and rescue services to a 63-square mile area of northeastern Washington County. The department also responds to calls in parts of Brenham, Burton, Chappell Hill, Lake Somerville and other nearby communities.
“This grant, along with past support from LCRA and Bluebonnet, has elevated our department’s readiness,” Zwiener said. “Whether it’s generator backup for our fire hall, ATV access for hard-to-reach areas, or now these extrication tools, this support ensures we’re prepared to handle a wide range of emergencies and serve the residents of Washington County more effectively.”
The community grant is one of four grants being awarded by Bluebonnet and LCRA through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025. More information is available here
