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.