GuidesEnvironmental and housing risk7 min read

Texas winter storm and grid outage preparedness

Texas housing is built for heat, so a multi-day freeze stresses pipes, heat pumps, and the grid at the same time.

Plan for heat you can keep without the grid

Assume power goes out for a day or more and that outdoor temperatures stay below freezing.

Choose one interior room to keep warm, and close doors and cover windows
Stock warm layers, hats, wool blankets, and sleeping bags rated for cold
Never heat with a grill, camp stove, or oven, and never run a generator indoors or in a garage
Install working carbon monoxide alarms on every floor and test them before winter

Protect pipes that were never insulated

Most freeze losses in Texas come from uninsulated pipes in attics, exterior walls, and garages.

Insulate exposed pipes, hose bibs, and attic runs, and know where the main shutoff is
Open cabinet doors under sinks and let one faucet drip on the coldest nights
Drain and disconnect garden hoses and irrigation backflow devices
Shut off and drain the system if you leave a house empty during a freeze

Store water and food for a week

Freezes bring boil notices and pressure loss because water plants and pipes fail alongside the grid.

One gallon per person per day for seven days, plus buckets of water for toilets
Fill the bathtub and spare containers before the storm arrives
No-cook food, plus a manual can opener and paper plates
Power banks, flashlights, and a battery radio, with headlamps for children

Keep the household connected and check on people

Cold events are most dangerous for older neighbors and anyone dependent on powered equipment.

Register medical equipment with your utility ahead of winter
Agree on a daily check-in with two people outside your home
Keep a full tank of fuel and avoid driving on iced overpasses
Save your utility outage number and your city's warming center list

After the thaw

Damage usually appears when pipes warm up, so the first hours after restoration matter for the claim.

Walk the house listening for running water and checking ceilings and walls
Shut the water main immediately if you find a burst line
Photograph everything before cleanup and keep receipts for repairs and hotels
Report the claim early, since adjusters are booked out after regional freezes

Common questions

How do I keep pipes from bursting during a Texas freeze?

Insulate exposed pipes in attics, garages, and exterior walls, let one faucet drip on the coldest nights, open cabinet doors under sinks, and know where the main shutoff is so you can stop a burst quickly.

Is it safe to heat a room with a gas stove or grill?

No. Both produce carbon monoxide and cause deaths during winter outages. Use layers and blankets in one closed room, and run generators outdoors only, well away from windows and doors.

Does homeowners insurance cover frozen pipe damage?

Most Texas homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, though insurers can deny claims when a home was left unheated. Document conditions and report the claim quickly.

See where your household stands

The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.

Take the Household Resilience Check →