Tonight's Temperatures Drop, County Encourages Preparedness

Starting late Tuesday night, Leon County will be affected by unusually cold temperatures with wind chills in the teens. Temperatures will be nearly 20 degrees below the January average. Therefore, the County urges all residents to take actions to ensure their safety, the protection of their homes, and the well-being of their pets.
 
Further, the National Weather Service has issued a hard freeze warning for Leon County, meaning temperatures will drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time and could damage or kill most residential and commercial plants. The warning, as of the time of this release, is from 11 p.m. Tuesday night through 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.
 
Please consider the following safety measures for you and your family:
 
Safety Measures for Residents:

1. Stay Indoors: If going outside, dress in multiple layers and don't forget to wear a hat, scarf, gloves, or other winter attire.
2. Check on Vulnerable Individuals: Check in on elderly neighbors, family, and friends who may need additional assistance.
3. Heating Safety: Use heating devices safely. Keep flammable materials away from space heaters and do not use ovens or stoves to heat homes. Make sure each appliance is properly adjusted and you have followed the manufacturer's instructions and local building codes for use.

1. Protect Pipes: To prevent freezing and bursting, allow outdoor faucets to drip slightly overnight.
2. Do Not Use Certain Devices Indoors: Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by never using generators, charcoal grills or gas grills indoors. Also, be sure to check the batteries in all carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Refer to this Florida Department of Health video to learn more.
3. Protect Plants: Bring potted plants indoors or cover outdoor plants with blankets or plastic to prevent frost damage.

1. Bring Pets Indoors: Ensure that pets have a warm, indoor space. If this is not possible, provide a dry, draft-free shelter outside.
2. Check Paws and Fur: Wipe your pet’s paws and fur after being outside to remove ice and moisture.
3. Ensure Adequate Food and Water: Pets need more food in the cold because keeping warm uses more energy.

• Visit LeonReady.com – The Leon Ready website is a hub of resources to help you, your family and your neighborhood prepare for disasters.
• Download the Leon County Citizens Connect Mobile App – Completely redesigned, the Citizens Connect mobile app puts timely emergency notifications at your fingertips through push notifications on your smartphone or other device. Be the first to know about shelter locations, road closures and service changes by downloading the application on the Apple and Google Play stores.
• Visit the Leon County Emergency Information Portal – Hosting the same information as the Citizens Connect app, the Emergency Information Portal can be accessed on a desktop or a mobile browser by visiting www.LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
• Listen to 88.9 WFSU-FM - Citizens can tune in to 88.9 FM for the most up-to-date information from local public safety officials.
• Call 2-1-1 Big Bend – If you need community information, services and support any day of the year, Big Bend 2-1-1 is reachable by dialing either 2-1-1 or (850) 617-6333.
• Call (850) 606-3700 with questions – Leon County Emergency Management staff is available to answer questions about how you should prepare, act and recover.
• For updates on City of Tallahassee Utilities and other City services, visit Talgov.com.

For more information, please contact Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.

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