Preparing for potentially snowy roads

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Preparations have begun in anticipation of the first winter storm this year to hit Central Texas.

The storm is due to move in on Friday. The Texas Department of Transportation is the primary line of defense against treacherous roads, with the initial priority list of highways, heavy intersections and inclined roads.

TxDOT has 15 base camps to service an 11-county area, with at least a five-day supply of sand and de-icing agents. Spokesman John Hurt said the alert has already gone out to agency employees.

"We put the guys on call," said Hurt. "Probably Thursday night we'll have people at the maintenance offices prepared to move out."

TxDOT keeps a close eye on Mason County. If ice forms there, TxDOT has a two to four-hour window of time before it hits the greater Austin area.

Austin's Public Works Department handles city streets, and keeps a regular supply of 3,000 tons of traction pellets if needed.  It is believed this winter front will be more snow than ice, but road crews said they always prepare for the worst.

Austinites are going to be ready for the storm this year. In 2007, residents flooded the stores searching for items

"We sold everything we had from faucet covers, heaters, ice scrapers, sand," said Jeff Breed with Breed & Co. Hardware.

Breed is preparing for the potential ice storm

"We called our supplier and added to our truck that we've got coming for this week," said Breed.

He ordered extra ice melters and logs, Cold weather means electric heaters will be flying off the shelves, along with inexpensive but necessary items live covers for outside faucets. He suggested people also buy a heat lamp for the space where outside pets will stay.

Some Texans, however, do not think all this preparation is really necessary.

"If it [does ice over], the sun would be out by 12 and it would be gone," said Alvin Ray Evans, an Austinite.

Here are some cold weather tips for potential freezing weather from the City of Austin:

Before Freezing Weather

• Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home.
• Remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Insulate outside faucets with Styrofoam cover, rags or paper.
• Cover vents around the foundation of your home.
• Know where your property owner's cut-off valve is located and how to use it. Apply oil such as WD-40 to the cut-off valve before operating to prevent the valve from breaking. The valve is located adjacent to the water meter box under a 6" metal lid.

In Sub-Freezing Weather

• Drip outside faucets 24 hours a day (5 drops per minute). This is not necessary unless temperatures are expected to be 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours. (Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.)
• Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
• In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Water softeners should be drained and protected from freezing temperatures.
• In sustained sub-freezing weather, let water drip slowly from inside faucets.
• Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past.

If You Are Not Going To Be At Home

• Cut water off at the property owner’s cut-off valve.
• Drain all outside water faucets if your house will be unoccupied for several days (leave outside faucets open).
• Or, leave home heating system on at a low setting.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
• Renters/tenants may be responsible for personal property damage caused by broken water pipes during severe weather conditions. Residents should contact property management/landlord or maintenance personnel to locate property owner’s cut-off valve and find ways to avoid pipe breakage during a freeze.

The Austin Water Utility encourages all customers to turn off irrigation systems during the winter months to help conserve water. However, businesses that continue to operate landscape irrigation systems are asked to shut their systems off in order to prevent possible freezing of pedestrian areas and damage caused by freezing conditions. Residential irrigation systems should also be shut off.

If a water line breaks and the cut off valve does not work or the customer is unable to locate or operate the value, the Austin Water Utility is available to turn off the water. Call the Utility's 24-Hour Emergency Hotline at (512) 972-1000.