AUSTIN, Texas — With high temperatures hovering in the 80s in Central Texas for much of the month of December, it might be easy to forget just how cold and miserable Texas got during the winter storm that devastated the state in February.

While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders have repeatedly said enough is being done to address the shortfalls that led to widespread power outages in February, critics aren’t satisfied that the state’s power grid is ready for another deep freeze.

Austin Water, which produced its own winter storm after action report, doesn’t want people to take any chances this winter.

The utility is encouraging Texas residents to take the following steps to protect themselves and prevent property damage:

Know where your water shutoff is – make sure everyone in the residence knows where the water shutoff valve is and keep it clear of obstacles. If you cannot access or find it, contact your landlord or your property inspection report.

Keep out cold air- tightly close all doors and windows to the outside. Seal all leaks in basements and crawl spaces. Repair any opening that may be broken or drafty. Close garage doors during a freeze and winterize your unused spaces.

Exposed pipes and water heaters- insulate pipes in unheated areas. Check manufacture recommendations in how to care for your water heaters.

Turn off faucets- turn off outside faucets and insulate by wrapping them with Styrofoam or towels. Also turn off your sprinkler system.

Prepare before leaving town- if you leave town, set your thermostat at 65 degrees or higher and turn off your water.

If faced with freezing weather, open cabinets below sinks to let warm air circulate around the pipes. Drip one cold water faucet slowly if you feel your pipes may still freeze. The faucet you drip should be the furthest one away from the main water shutoff valve. If you run into a power outage, turn off your faucet.

After a freeze, if you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, it may be frozen. First, test all faucets to see which pipes are frozen. If none of the faucets work, that means the pipe near the water valve is frozen. If faucets on the same floor aren’t working, the pipes in between the floors are frozen. If the faucets in the same room aren’t working, then the frozen pipe is located between that room and the water shutoff valve.

In order to thaw your pipe slowly, turn on any faucet that can run water. Fully open the faucet closest to the frozen pipe to relieve pressure. Use warm water towels to wrap around the pipes to thaw. Don’t use electrical appliances or open flames.

Emergency supplies to have on hand during freezing temperatures include a water meter key, insulation, hose bib covers, radio and flashlight with batteries and a gallon of water per person per days for seven days.​