JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
A strong arctic cold front will arrive in the San Antonio area around midnight on Sunday night, Jan. 14, 2024.
Temperatures will drop below freezing with wind chills in the 20s before sunrise Monday morning, Jan. 15, 2024.
A hard freeze is expected on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, with temperatures equal to or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit from 1-9 a.m.
Before the cold weather arrives, experts recommend that you do the following:
- Ensure walls and attics have proper insulation.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from inside.
- Prevent frozen pipes by wrapping pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers; cover newspapers with plastic to avoid moisture; let faucets drip to avoid freezing; know how to shut off water valves.
- Obtain safe emergency heating equipment.
- Install and inspect smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Additional recommendations for winter driving and actions to take during a cold weather event can be found here: https://www.beready.af.mil/Disasters-Emergencies/Natural-Disasters/Winter-Storm-and-Extreme-Cold/.
Facility managers should take steps to prepare facilities before the beginning of next week. Facility managers please take precaution and take the following steps:
1. If your facility suffered impact during fiscal year 2022 freeze, assess your facility/facilities before, during, and after this weather event and evaluate any impact. Contact the 502nd CES if you detect any damage. The JBSA-Lackland Call Center number is 210-671-5555, the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Call Center is 210-466-5555, and the JBSA-Randolph Call Center can be reached at 210-652-5555.
2. Conduct a walk around of your facility/facilities before and after this weather event and pick up small items that could easily be blown around by high winds.
3. To prevent freezing pipes, drip hot water in every floor (a couple of rooms per floor). For your outside faucets, disconnect any hoses, and winterize your pipes.
4. Ensure your windows and outside doors are closed to maintain the building within operational temperature range.
5. Once the severe weather has passed, use extreme care in assessing the outside of your facility/facilities and areas in case electrical lines have been blown down.
6. If you or your personnel, see a downed power line, STAY AWAY and immediately call the Fire Department due to electrocution and fire potential.
7. Report any damages, trees down, large limbs, roof/facility leaks.
Remember to secure outdoor items that may blow away in strong winds, stay out of low-water crossings (turn around, don't drown) and know where your shelter-in-place location is in case a tornado is spawned by this storm.
Call the Emergency Management Office at 210-671-2260 should you have any concerns or questions. for you. As always, be safe.
Some additional information resources are linked below for review. It's a good time to check your shelter-in-place and evacuation procedures, at work and at home.
Winter storms and extreme cold: https://www.beready.af.mil/Disasters-Emergencies/Natural-Disasters/Winter-Storm-and-Extreme-Cold/.
Stay informed about impacts to JBSA by monitoring JBSA social media/web platforms, and encourage your personnel to do the same at the following sources: