Weather / Heat & cold
Heat and hard freezes don't look as dramatic as a tornado, but they're among the deadliest hazards Texas faces - heat because it creeps up, and cold because Texas isn't built for it. Both kill in ways that are largely preventable.
Heat is a quiet danger because it can build before someone realizes they are in trouble. Long Texas afternoons, outdoor work, a broken air conditioner, or a parked car can turn serious quickly. The key is to act at the first signs of heat illness and treat confusion or passing out as an emergency.
The one thing
Know heat stroke: hot skin, a high temperature, and especially confusion or passing out. It's a life-threatening emergency - call 911 immediately and cool the person down fast while you wait.
Heat illness comes in two stages - learn to tell them apart:
Signs: Heavy sweating, weakness, cool/pale clammy skin, nausea, headache, dizziness, cramps.
Do this: Move to a cool place, sip water, remove extra clothing, and cool the skin with wet cloths. It can turn into heat stroke - watch closely.
Signs: Hot skin, a body temperature above 103 degrees, a fast strong pulse, and - the key sign - confusion, slurred speech, or passing out.
Do this: Call 911 now. Move the person to a cooler place and cool them fast (wet cloths, a cool bath). Do not give fluids to someone who isn't fully alert.
Hard freezes can strain roads, pipes, power, and home heating all at once. The February 2021 storm showed how a long outage can turn a cold spell into a household emergency, so plan for safe heat and several days without normal services.
The one thing
Carbon monoxide is the hidden danger after the power goes out. Never run a generator, grill, camp stove, or charcoal indoors or in a garage, even with the door open. Put a generator outside at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, aim the exhaust away from the home, and use a battery-backed carbon-monoxide detector near sleeping areas.
Official sources
Heat illness and winter safety come from the National Weather Service; extreme-heat health risks and carbon-monoxide prevention from the CDC. After a freeze, carbon monoxide is the danger to plan around.
Before you act: Heat and cold warnings are issued in real time and aren't shown here. Check the National Weather Service for current conditions, and call 911 for heat stroke or hypothermia. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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