Even though living in an apartment relieves much of the burden a homeowner would normally have, it is still important to take steps to prepare for a freeze in Texas. Energy To Go has tips and tricks to help you prepare for an icy chill.

Create an emergency kit

It is essential to have an emergency kit ready any time of the year, but this is something you might want to do now before other people storm stores in search of supplies such as band-aids, batteries, an FM/AM radio, flashlights, hand tools such as a wrench or pliers, manual can openers and more. You will also want to stock up on essentials such as bottled water, hand sanitizer, canned food, and plenty of your favorite snacks.

Bring your outdoor plants and your pets inside

Your plants and pets need your help to prepare for a freeze in Texas. Thankfully, living in an apartment or high-rise means you don’t have landscape to care for. Simply bring your portable plants that might live on your balcony inside, and place in an area that will get ambient sunlight until you can put them back outside.

Even though bringing your pets inside might seem like a no-brainer, it is also important to make sure you are stocked up on their needs as well – pet food, clean drinking water, cat litter, toys or blankets specifically for them. You don’t want to be stuck inside with no way to get them what they need as well.

Stay warm and keep busy

If the temperature inside your apartment gets chillier than you might like, you want to have plenty of things to keep you warm such as socks, blankets or thick sweaters. It is also a good idea to conserve your cell phone power, so don’t plan on using your phone as a source of entertainment. You can use other devices, such as a tablet or laptop, for games, YouTube, and more if needed. Some alternatives to playing on your phone include catching up on sleep, exercise and yoga, adult coloring books or Sudoku puzzles. Engaging in a spirited game of charades is also a great way to pass the time! You can also find more ideas for indoor entertainment that doesn’t require electricity here.

Get out a pen and paper to keep important numbers handy

With any emergency weather event, you want to write down the numbers for important friends, family and businesses for help should the need arise.

If the power goes out,  we have the numbers here for the company to call in your area.