CrowdSource Rescue

A SHELTER IN PLACE order has been issued for Oxford, Mississippi as a crippling #icestorm continues. Hours of thunder freezing rain has accrued 1-2 inches of ice. Falling trees are a threat to life and property. #ice #winterstorm

We’re not through the worst yet. Stay OFF the roads, and if you absolutely must travel, check road conditions and drive cautiously. More info and resources available at HoustonOEM.org

Don’t forget to leave yalls sinks drippin this weekend

⚠️ Ice Storm & Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for ice and sleet. Expect hazardous to near impossible travel and power outages. Dangerous Cold: An Extreme Cold Warning takes effect Saturday evening through early next week. Preparations should be completed today!

UPGRADED ICE ACCUMULATION! Multiple NWS offices have increased ice forecasts as confidence grows in catastrophic, long-lasting impacts.

That pink on the map isn’t just “a little glaze.” It’s dangerous weight. A quarter inch of ice can add 100–500 pounds to a single span of power line. A half inch can pile on several hundred pounds more. Three-quarters of an inch? That’s when lines fail, poles snap, and trees come down. This is why ice storms cause some of the longest, most widespread power outages. If you’re in the zone, now is the time to prepare: charge devices, have flashlights ready, and avoid travel once ice begins to accumulate. Watch @weatherchannel for the latest forecast. #IceStorm #WinterWeather #PowerOutages #Fern

❄️ Southern Winter Storm Prep Thread ❄️ 🧵 Ice hits the South hard—power outages, burst pipes, slick roads. 60+ tips condensed into essentials. Save & share! BEFORE THE STORM (24–48 hrs out) 1. Charge devices + power banks 2. Fill gas tanks 3. Get small-bill cash 4. Pick up meds early 5. Download offline content 6. Pick one warm room 7. Know shut-off valves/breaker box 8. Set fridge/freezer colder ❄️ WATER & PIPES 9. Drip faucets on cold nights 10. Open sink cabinets 11. Disconnect hoses 12. Insulate outdoor faucets 13. Know main water shut-off 14. Store extra water (tub, jugs) for flushing ❄️ FOOD PREP 15. Stock 3–5 days no-cook: PB, tuna, crackers, canned fruit/meat 16. Manual can opener 17. Shelf-stable milk 18. Freeze water bottles as ice packs 19. Cooler ready if power out & cold outside 20. Limit fresh perishables ❄️ HEAT & SAFETY 21. Extra blankets/sleeping bags 22. Dry firewood + clear chimney 23. NEVER run generator/grill indoors 24. Test smoke/CO detectors 25. Flashlights + batteries per person 26. Prefer battery lanterns over candles ❄️ VEHICLE & TRAVEL 27. Avoid driving in freezing rain 28. Bridges/overpasses freeze first 29. Car kit: blanket, water, snacks, charger, gloves 30. Fresh wiper fluid/blades 31. Park away from trees 32. Expect flight & highway delays ❄️ POWER OUTAGE 33. Unplug sensitive electronics 34. Battery radio or phone alerts 35. Surge protectors 36. Know local warming centers 37. Extension cords for safe generator use 38. Keep fridge/freezer closed ❄️ PETS & LIVESTOCK 39. Bring pets inside + extra food/water 40. Unfrozen water for outdoor animals 41. Extra bedding/straw 42. Leashes/carriers ready ❄️ MEDICAL/SPECIAL NEEDS 43. List meds & dosages 44. First-aid kit + thermometer 45. Backup batteries for devices 46. Backup location with power if needed ❄️ PROPERTY 47. Move cars from under trees/lines 48. Secure outdoor items 49. Trim trees BEFORE storm 50. Photo property for insurance DURING: Stay off roads, treat downed lines as live, safe heat only, check on neighbors. ❄️ AFTER 56. Watch for refreeze 57. Check pipes as temps rise 58. Toss fridge food >4 hrs above 40°F 59. No DIY on downed lines 60. Power restoration can take days KEY: ¼" ice = outages. ½" ice = days of chaos. Stay safe, y’all! ❄️

❄️ Winter Storm Update ❄️ Here's the latest on the impending winter storm set to begin across the south-central U.S. on Friday. Confidence continues to increase for damaging ice accumulations across parts of the South. Preparations should be completed as soon as possible.

ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from January 24-27 due to forecasted below-freezing temperatures with the possibility of frozen precipitation across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves. Grid conditions are expected to be normal during a Weather Watch and can be monitored on ercot.com. Read more: bit.ly/4r5pTOH. Sign up for #TXANS notifications: bit.ly/49AD0le

HISTORIC ICE STORM COMING - A destructive and potentially catastrophic ice storm is forecast to impact the south this weekend. Widespread ice will cripple travel, cause major power outages, and down trees. This is a rare high-impact event — potentially the worst in decades since the Great Ice Storm of February 1994. Computer models are calling for widespread ice accumulations of 1-2+” — for context — a half an inch is considered catastrophic. Residents from Dallas, Shreveport, Atlanta, and Charlotte need to prepare like a hurricane is coming. Buy non-perishable food, water, gas, and charge devices. Protect pipes, plants, pets, and people. It also wouldn’t hurt to trim vulnerable tree limbs close to valuable property. I would have warm clothes in case the power goes out. You can forget about any travel north this weekend. An ice storm of this magnitude will cripple the I-20 corridor along with any flights into this area for days. Ice impacts could even be possible as far south as I-10 in Texas and western Louisiana — but the swath of greatest impacts will likely stay north. Either way, this is trending towards becoming a historic storm, and those in the path should heed warnings from local meteorologists and emergency officials. Stay tuned.

We are closely monitoring the potential ice storm forecasted to impact large swathes of our home state of Texas. Would encourage all to do the same. Winter Storm in 2021 killed more people in Houston alone, than all of Hurricane Harvey combined. The power grid's failure was utterly catastrophic. Nobody is suggesting this upcoming storm will be similar (yet), but its hard to not consider past experiences, especially with the seemingly fragile state of the TX power grid (2024's derecho and Cat 1 Beryl saw millions without power for days/weeks on end). So, for better or worse, we are taking this forecast seriously.

EXTREME COLD is expected Saturday morning across the United States. Wind chills will be as low as 50 degrees below zero in the Midwest, and subzero wind chills are likely in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and parts of Tennessee. Exposed skin could lead to frostbite.

MAJOR ICE STORM is expected from Texas to the Carolinas on Friday and Saturday... This could be one of the most dangerous winter storms in the past 5 YEARS across this region, with significant ice accumulation possible. Power outages, infrastructure damage, and major travel impacts possible.

Damage reported after apparent tornado in NW Harris County click2houston.com/news/local/202…

Timelapse view of the tornado-warned storm that moved northwest of Houston earlier this afternoon. #TXwx 📸 @cyclonePORT |📍Houston, Texas

We have been in active communication with several regional food banks, who have reached out over capacity concerns due to a sharp increase in food insecurity in their areas. We are likely to resume our food delivery program with them. Still figuring logistics out, more will be revealed when we know more. Volunteer at your local food bank, let someone know you love them. <3 #TX #SETX #HTX

Hurricane Melissa made historic landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, wreaking havoc, and damaging homes, hospitals, and schools. Our team and partners are sheltering in place across the Caribbean as Melissa approaches Cuba as a Category 4 storm. When it’s safe to travel, we’ll be ready to respond immediately—with a ship already stationed in Puerto Rico to deliver tons of food and supplies to families in Jamaica. Thank you for standing with us and sending us to feed body and soul. ❤️#MercyChefs #DisasterRelief #hurricanemelissa #cuba #jamaica

10/27 5am EDT: #Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds and a 917 mb central pressure, confirmed by the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters. Conditions in #Jamaica will rapidly deteriorate later today and tonight. Here are the key messages: See hurricanes.gov for the latest details.

Important safety update on how to stay gator-free in Louisiana waterways!