The City of Victoria, Victoria County and the City/County Office of Emergency Management are reminding residents to protect plants, pets, pipes and people as a powerful cold front brings winter chills to our area.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to drop below freezing Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
How to prepare
To protect pipes from freezing, residents should allow the faucet furthest from the water meter to drip steadily. Do not turn on every faucet, and do not turn them on all the way. A single, steady drip will protect the pipes and will prevent an undue strain on the water system.
Local officials shared these additional safety tips:
- Do not let a space heater run overnight or in an unattended location, and keep space heaters away from flammable materials or electrical hazards like water.
- If you plan to light a fire in the fireplace, make sure your chimney is clean and free of any flammable soot.
- Do not use your oven to heat your home.
- Wrap your exposed pipes and cover the faucets outside your home, such as hose faucets.
- Open your cabinets to help keep your pipes warm.
- Cover your plants or bring them inside.
- Bring your pets inside.
Warming center information
An emergency warming center will be open at C3 Victory Church, 1604 E. Crestwood Drive, 5 p.m.-8 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The warming center accepts donations of blankets, gloves, thermals and winter coats. Volunteers, food donations and monetary donations are needed as well. Residents can contact Mid-Coast Family Services at (361) 575-7842 for more warming center details or to donate or volunteer. Donations can also be dropped off at Mid-Coast Family Services, 2010 N. Navarro St., Suite A, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Mid-Coast Family Services will provide overnight emergency hotel vouchers for out-of-county homeless people who are unable to travel to the warming center. The voucher will cover Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with checkout at 11 a.m. Monday.
To request a hotel room in your county or for more details, please contact Mid-Coast Family Services at 361-575-7842 or call Keith Rucker at 361-935-3515 or Lisa Griffin at 361-935-1451 during office hours. Hotel stays will require a photo ID.
City closures
Riverside Golf Course will close Friday and Saturday. The golf course will also be closed on Christmas Day as previously announced.
All nonemergency City offices will close Friday for the Christmas holiday as previously announced. Garbage and curbside recycling will be collected as normally scheduled.
Stay connected
For more information, visit www.victoriatx.gov/weather.