As South Florida braces for its coldest temperatures since 2010, experts are advising residents on how to protect their pets, plants, vehicles and homes from the chill.The Florida Division of Emergency Management is urging residents and visitors to prepare for the coldest conditions of the winter season as a strong cold front approaches the state this weekend and into early next week.“Cold temperatures can pose serious risks for Florida residents who are not prepared,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “As colder conditions move across the state, I encourage everyone to follow the Five P’s of Cold Weather Preparedness by protecting people, pets, pipes and plants, while also practicing fire safety. Taking these simple but important steps can help keep families safe and prevent unnecessary damage during cold weather.”PEOPLELimit time outdoors in cold conditions, dressing in warm, layered clothing and using heating sources safely indoors. Dr. Thomas Peterson, the emergency physician and medical director at Florida Coast Medical Center in Port St. Lucie, said they are seeing an uptick in patients with cold-related injuries and side effects.Dr. Peterson advised that avoiding going outside for long periods might help, especially since many people in Florida aren’t used to the cold, and lower temperatures can have an impact.”You don’t get frostbite, but you can get chill beans which is you know pain in your fingertips and your feet thickening of your skin, and then also just severe fatigue dehydration, so a lot of different things can come with cold weather,” Peterson said.PETSBring animals indoors and ensure they have a warm, dry place away from the cold.Experts emphasize that if it’s too cold for humans, it’s too cold for pets, recommending limited outdoor time for animals. Smaller animals, senior pets, and those with short fur are particularly vulnerable to winter weather. Jan Steel, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, advises that outdoor pets should have a dry and warm shelter that is completely covered, avoiding blankets that could get wet.PLANTSProtect Plants by covering or moving sensitive plants indoors when temperatures drop.Samantha Hudon, nursery manager and horticulturist at One Stop Garden Shop in Palm Beach Gardens, advises bringing plants indoors if possible. “If you have the ability to bring in plants, then do so, you know, as an insurance policy, just to make sure that the plants are okay. Of course, if they can’t be brought in, precautions like watering right up until the freeze event will help keep them alive. Water in the soil conducts heat better than dry soil,” Hudon said.PIPESProtect Pipes by insulating exposed pipes and allowing faucets to drip to reduce the risk of freezing.VEHICLES”We do get a lot of spikes on those battery sales and stuff like that, because batteries don’t do good in the cold,” said Xavier Kinty, a salesman at Advance Auto Parts. “They shock, they freeze themselves and just go out on you. I mean, I dealt with it this morning.”AAA and auto experts warn that a weak battery or underinflated tire can leave drivers stranded, even on short trips. Drivers are encouraged to check their vehicles and allow engines to warm up briefly before driving. FIRE SAFETYPractice Fire Safety by keeping space heaters plugged directly into wall outlets, maintaining clearance from flammable materials, never leaving heaters, candles or fireplaces unattended, and avoiding the use of ovens, stoves, grills or generators as heat sources indoors.Florida Power & Light, which is operating all available power plants at maximum output during the cold snap, is advising customer to set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature. Every degree below 68 degrees saves energy. Additionally, they said to increase thermostat settings gradually — no more than 2 degrees at a time to prevent overloading the system. Residents are advised to expect a burning smell when turning on the heat for the first time in months, which should dissipate after a few minutes. If the smell worsens, the heating system should be shut off and checked for smoke or fire.
As South Florida braces for its coldest temperatures since 2010, experts are advising residents on how to protect their pets, plants, vehicles and homes from the chill.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management is urging residents and visitors to prepare for the coldest conditions of the winter season as a strong cold front approaches the state this weekend and into early next week.
“Cold temperatures can pose serious risks for Florida residents who are not prepared,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “As colder conditions move across the state, I encourage everyone to follow the Five P’s of Cold Weather Preparedness by protecting people, pets, pipes and plants, while also practicing fire safety. Taking these simple but important steps can help keep families safe and prevent unnecessary damage during cold weather.”
PEOPLE
Limit time outdoors in cold conditions, dressing in warm, layered clothing and using heating sources safely indoors.
Dr. Thomas Peterson, the emergency physician and medical director at Florida Coast Medical Center in Port St. Lucie, said they are seeing an uptick in patients with cold-related injuries and side effects.
Dr. Peterson advised that avoiding going outside for long periods might help, especially since many people in Florida aren’t used to the cold, and lower temperatures can have an impact.
“You don’t get frostbite, but you can get chill beans which is you know pain in your fingertips and your feet thickening of your skin, and then also just severe fatigue dehydration, so a lot of different things can come with cold weather,” Peterson said.
PETS
Bring animals indoors and ensure they have a warm, dry place away from the cold.
Experts emphasize that if it’s too cold for humans, it’s too cold for pets, recommending limited outdoor time for animals.
Smaller animals, senior pets, and those with short fur are particularly vulnerable to winter weather. Jan Steel, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, advises that outdoor pets should have a dry and warm shelter that is completely covered, avoiding blankets that could get wet.
PLANTS
Protect Plants by covering or moving sensitive plants indoors when temperatures drop.
Samantha Hudon, nursery manager and horticulturist at One Stop Garden Shop in Palm Beach Gardens, advises bringing plants indoors if possible.
“If you have the ability to bring in plants, then do so, you know, as an insurance policy, just to make sure that the plants are okay. Of course, if they can’t be brought in, precautions like watering right up until the freeze event will help keep them alive. Water in the soil conducts heat better than dry soil,” Hudon said.
PIPES
Protect Pipes by insulating exposed pipes and allowing faucets to drip to reduce the risk of freezing.
VEHICLES
“We do get a lot of spikes on those battery sales and stuff like that, because batteries don’t do good in the cold,” said Xavier Kinty, a salesman at Advance Auto Parts. “They shock, they freeze themselves and just go out on you. I mean, I dealt with it this morning.”
AAA and auto experts warn that a weak battery or underinflated tire can leave drivers stranded, even on short trips. Drivers are encouraged to check their vehicles and allow engines to warm up briefly before driving.
FIRE SAFETY
Practice Fire Safety by keeping space heaters plugged directly into wall outlets, maintaining clearance from flammable materials, never leaving heaters, candles or fireplaces unattended, and avoiding the use of ovens, stoves, grills or generators as heat sources indoors.
Florida Power & Light, which is operating all available power plants at maximum output during the cold snap, is advising customer to set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature. Every degree below 68 degrees saves energy. Additionally, they said to increase thermostat settings gradually — no more than 2 degrees at a time to prevent overloading the system.
Residents are advised to expect a burning smell when turning on the heat for the first time in months, which should dissipate after a few minutes. If the smell worsens, the heating system should be shut off and checked for smoke or fire.