Last winter was an eye-opener in central Texas. Many of us realize how unprepared we are without heating or water for several days.

The Farmer’s Yearbook predicts that the winter will be cold, but not as severe as last year. 

Winter weather forecast: Farmers’ Almanac predicts another cold winter in Texas

The National Weather Service tells us that this is a La Niña year, which means it should be warmer and drier than usual. 

Winter weather forecast: What is the weather in La Nina? What is La Nina Winter? What does this mean for Central Texas?

No matter what winter brings, now is the time to prepare for any low temperatures or winter snow storms that may occur.

As we learned from last winter, we cannot always count on our appliances, including ovens and refrigerators. Nor can we count on our ability to go to the store or have electricity and heating. The following are some of the necessities that need to be prepared:

Multiple flashlights and batteries. Avoid using candles, this is a fire hazard.

bottled water. Everyone keeps one gallon of bottled water for drinking every day. Plan for 7 days. You can also take extra bottles to wash dishes and bathe.

Non-perishable food and manual can opener. Food choices include canned meats, soups, vegetables and fruits; peanuts and other nut butters; and pantry snacks such as granola bars and biscuits.

First aid kit with bandage, alcohol wipes, antibiotic cream, burn ointment, ankle bandage, thermometer, antipyretic/pain reliever and antihistamine (such as diphenhydramine). 

Medicines and medical supplies. Always prepare medication for at least a week. If your medicine must be refrigerated, prepare a freezer pack and cooler. 

Warm clothes and blankets. The layer is your friend and keeps you warm.

Firewood, lighters and lighters. If you have a fireplace, this is very helpful for keeping warm.

Diapers and wipes. At least one week's worth. 

Shovel and bucket. We now know the power of turning snow into water to flush a toilet. Shovel can also help clear snow from driveways and sidewalks.

Sand, salt or cat litter. Increase traction on icy sidewalks and driveways.

Battery powered or hand-cranked weather radio.  

cash. If there is a large-scale blackout, but roads pass, ATMS will not work. 

Medical equipment. Make a plan for how to power any basic medical equipment you use in your home. This may include backup batteries or backup generators.

Austin's response: "Overwhelming, cascading community impact": The report highlights Austin's failure during the freeze

Pay attention to maintenance now, especially if you have been working from home and not driving frequently. Are your tires and brakes in good condition? Try to fill up your gas tank. 

Once the winter weather begins, avoid driving. If you are really stuck, put an emergency kit in your car. It should include:

• Flashlight with spare battery

• Bottled water and non-perishable snacks

• Scraper used to scrape ice from cars 

Conduct an insurance evaluation. Do you have adequate insurance if rain, snow, or broken pipes enter water? Does your insurance match the increase in home value and the cost of rebuilding your home?

Repair your heater. Before the weather gets cold, make sure everything is in order. The service life of most heat pumps is about 8 to 12 years. The furnace can be used for 10 to 15 years. Most people use air conditioners to replace heat pumps and furnaces—this can only last 10-13 years in Texas—because these systems must match. In a heat pump, the compressor often turns off; in a gas stove, it is an igniter. Maintain your system to maximize its service life.

If your heater has been used for more than 15 years and needs frequent maintenance, even if your thermostat is set to low, the electricity bill will increase significantly, making loud or abnormal noises, or the temperature is inconsistent. 

Check the water heater. Most water heaters can be used for 10-12 years. The new water heater standard implemented in 2015 means that the new water heater is more energy-efficient, but larger in size, and may not fit your standard water heater closet. See if your water heater has been used up so that you can replace and remodel it before there is no hot water.

Sweep the chimney and dryer vents. You should clean the fireplace every 50 fires or every wood thread of every wood burning fireplace. While you are doing it, the same company can also clean your dryer vents. That should be done once a year. Even if it is not time to clean the fireplace, make sure that the damper is working properly and the flue is open. Sweep the chimney to remove the creosote sticking to the chimney and check it to make sure that no chimney is on fire, and there are no cracks or animals inhabiting it. Most fireplaces can last about 20-30 years before cracks begin to appear. Changes in the foundation may increase cracks.

Never use liquid accelerators, gasoline or charcoal in the fireplace. Instead, use an igniter. Some household items can also do this. Roll the dryer lint into small balls or apply petroleum jelly on the cotton balls. You can also open a pack of Doritos or Fritos snack packs and sprinkle these potato chips between the wood. The oil is highly flammable.

Do not use newspapers, other types of paper or garbage. It breaks easily and flies away. 

Make sure to leave 2 feet of space around the fireplace and use the screen in the event of a fire. Do not store wood or any flammable objects nearby. Even after the fire has gone out, keep the damper open until you no longer feel the heat from the fireplace.

Call the plumber. Most of the damage caused by the explosion last winter came from the pipeline rupture. Ask the plumber to check whether the pipes are leaking, whether all toilets are flushed normally, the faucet is not leaking, and whether there is a good flow of water in the shower. A good rule of thumb is to perform preventive maintenance on your pipes every six months to a year, and use a water softener to help the pipes avoid mineral deposits.

Reserve pipe insulation materials. Purchase pipe insulators or faucet covers to slide onto any exposed pipes or faucets when the temperature drops. If you have installed pipe insulation, please make sure it is in good condition.

Check the insulation of the attic. The insulation will compress over time. Most lofts are designed to have a value of approximately R-39, so you need approximately 13 inches to 14 inches of insulation.

Look at the roof. Austin tends to be wetter in winter and spring, and your roof has just been hit by the strong summer sun. Are there any missing or folded shingles or particles falling on the ground? You want to see shingles in a straight line. If you see a slope, it may indicate that the roof is rotted.

Clear the drain. At this time of year, they are clogged with leaves and plant debris. You don't want them to go backwards and damage the roof.

Refresh the landscaping. Our landscape was severely damaged by the freezing in February. If you don't see the leaves reappear, you can now designate that plant or tree as dead. Autumn is the best time to plant these trees and shrubs so that they can take root before the hot summer.

Weatherproof around doors and windows. Check for leaks in the caulking around doors and windows. If you don't have or the old seal is worn out, add weather strips around the door. This will help you keep the heat in the winter.

Check the settlement of the structure. As the weather changes, your home also changes. Windows and doors may start to stick. You may only need a handy person to adjust the door and window locks. If you find cracks in the gypsum board and the foundation, you need to call the foundation repair company to check.

Call an electrician. List the invalid things and make an appointment to save some money.

Replace the batteries in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. If you haven't done it over time, what are you waiting for?

Alternative heating: Austin Energy has received almost no requests for help from household generators. Since the February freeze, it has added hundreds more

Who do you need to check in an emergency? Who will check on you? Print or write out the necessary phone numbers. 

We now rely heavily on mobile phones for information. Have a variety of portable chargers ready, which are plugged in and ready to use in case you lose power. If the power is off for a long time, please consider using a solar charger.  

If it is not safe in your home due to broken pipes or lack of heating, please know where you will go. Know the location of emergency shelters at all times.

In addition, put important documents such as insurance plans, social security cards, driving licenses, passports, and birth certificates in a waterproof and fireproof place so that they can be obtained in an emergency.

Texas A&M has a great severe weather homepage: tamu.edu/emergency/procedures/severeWeather.html.

Ready.gov has a complete disaster preparedness plan and more disaster resources.

The National Weather Service also provides guidance: weather.gov/safety/winter.