City of Georgetown: Weekend Freeze Threat; Household Hazardous Waste Event Moved to Jan. 31

The following provided by the City of Georgetown, Texas

An arctic cold front is expect to arrive in Georgetown Friday, Jan. 23, bringing with it the potential for an extended period of freezing temperatures and possible winter precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

City staff will continue to monitor the forecast and will respond as appropriate.

This forecast could change as we get closer to the weekend. Be sure to follow the National Weather Service for updated forecasts.

Household hazardous waste event postponed to Jan. 31

The household hazardous waste collection event scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, has been postponed to Jan. 31. Registered participants should have received an email with information about the date change.

Protect people, pets, pipes, and plants

Here are ways to protect people, pipes, pets, and plants sensitive to cold and wind in Central Texas.

People, especially children and the elderly, need protection from the cold. Dress in layers and wear a hat that covers your ears to retain body heat. Also protect your extremities with warm socks and gloves.

Pets, such as cats and dogs, need access to shelter to protect them from cool temperatures and winds, and an unfrozen water source. Bring all pets inside and provide plenty of blankets for warmth. Once it is above freezing again, pets can be left outside if you provide a dry, draft-free shelter just large enough for them to lay down and protected from wind and rain. Outdoor pets may also need additional caloric intake to help them maintain their body heat.

Pipes can freeze and burst in lower temperatures. Protect outdoor water spigots with faucet covers and use foam pipe insulation on outdoor pipes. Above-ground irrigation backflow devices can also freeze, so remember to wrap or insulate them and turn off backflow water valves and irrigation system controllers to reduce the freeze potential.

There is a risk of damage to exposed pipes during this hard freeze, especially across Central Texas. When water freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe. To protect your indoor pipes, open cabinet doors and eliminate drafts where water supply lines are located in unheated areas.

In the event of frozen pipes, it’s recommended that you turn off your water at the main shut-off valve to prevent additional damage when the pipes unfreeze. Learn how to find and operate your main shut-off valve here.

Plants in containers are more susceptible to freezing temperatures because they lack the insulation the earth naturally provides. Move container plants inside or put them on the south side of the house, water them, and pile on mulch, leaves, and hay to protect the roots, and/or cover them with a frost blanket.

Check out these cold weather preparedness tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Electric outages

Severe weather may cause electric outages. Keep electric devices charged and ensure backup power or alternative heating options are available if needed. If you or someone you know relies on electricity for medical purposes, please make the appropriate accommodations. City electric crews are on standby and ready to respond to outages and restore power safely.

Georgetown electric customers experiencing an outage should refer to the City’s outage map or text STATUS to 512-930-8400 and follow the prompts. The system will recognize your number if it’s tied to your utility account. Please refer to the electric outage page for more information and to verify if you are Georgetown Electric customer.

If you are an Oncor or PEC customer, please use these links for information about electric outages:

Water outages

Georgetown water customers experiencing a water outage or who notice a water leak should check the outage map first. If it is not shown, call us at 512-930-3640, then press 1. Our system will recognize your number if it’s tied to your utility account. To receive an update on a water outage at your property, text STATUS to 512-930-3640.

Please refer to the water outage page for more information.

Weather updates

Sign up with Warn Central Texas to receive emergency weather updates.
Weather maps and current forecasts can be found on the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service

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