February 2021 taught DFW a brutal lesson. Don't get caught unprepared again.
What to have ready:
Water (most critical):
- 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 5-day supply
- Fill bathtub before expected storms (for flushing if pipes burst)
- Keep extra water for pets
Food:
- 5+ days of non-perishable food (canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, protein bars)
- Manual can opener (sounds obvious, forgotten by everyone)
- Cooler + ice if you have freezer food to save
Power:
- Portable battery pack for phones (charged at all times)
- Flashlights + extra batteries (not just your phone flashlight)
- Generator if you can afford one ($300-1,500). Never run indoors. Source: ready.gov
- Solar-powered phone charger ($20-30 on Amazon)
Heat (winter storms):
- Extra blankets, sleeping bags
- Know how to shut off your water at the main valve (to prevent pipe bursts). Source: your city's water utility website.
- Pipe insulation for exposed pipes ($5 at Home Depot)
Communication:
- Download offline maps on Google Maps
- Have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA weather alerts)
- Know your city's emergency management page
DFW-specific contacts:
- Oncor outage reporting: oncor.com or (888) 313-4747
- Dallas Water Utilities: (214) 651-1441
- Fort Worth Water: (817) 392-4477
- ERCOT grid status: ercot.com
Sources:
- Ready.gov — emergency preparedness
- FEMA.gov
- Oncor emergency resources
Don't wait until the next storm. Prep now.
The water main shutoff tip is the most important thing in this thread. If your pipes freeze and burst while the water is on, you can flood your entire house. Know where that valve is TODAY.