Rolling blackouts, bursting pipes, flooded houses, fallen trees, and icy roads continue to be almost inevitable consequences that people are not prepared for until it happens to them. Severe weather is always a possibility as it cannot be predicted, even by the people trained to do exactly that. Collierville is no exception. Just last December, Collierville experienced these rolling blackouts and bursting pipes from cold fronts, leaving their floors flooded and pulling mass amounts of money out of their pocket. Even though people can’t prevent, they can be prepared.

Loss of Power

Last year, there were frequent blackouts, leading to the loss of power and electricity. Last December, multiple people loss power during the cold front and ultimately lost their food in the fridge and the heat in their homes. Once the power is out, there is not much to be done besides waiting for it to come back on and plugging in all the heaters you have to try and stay warm. There needs to be food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated as you never know when the power might come back on. People have experience weeks of no power and have had to outsource other help, therefore spending more money in order to get back to normal life, long after the weather has passed.  Just because the storm was only a day, or the cold front was only a week doesn’t mean the consequences it brings won’t last longer and have a harsher impact.

Cold Front

People in Collierville have little experience with severe cold weather, but as the weather continues to change and develop, there is no telling what could happen. Winter this year had been as unpredictable as they come. From a solid 60 degrees to a rushing cold front and snow the next week. Bursting pipes are very common when this occurs and although it cannot be stopped, there can be some prevention done. Turning the water to a drip and opening the cabinet doors so the pipes don’t freeze is a very important step. Stay inside as much as possible as being below 13 degrees is not enjoyable for anyone. To go further, houses can be weather proofed, and insulation can be place along windows, pipes, and drain lines as well.

Heat Waves

Global warming is real. As time goes on, these heat waves become more frequent. Staying hydrated and wearing the appropriate clothing is the best possible solution while also trying to stay out of the heat for long periods of time, especially doing strenuous activity. Heat waves can have high humidity, which sometimes makes it hard to breathe. Rain cannot form and the heat only continues to increase. The temperature exceeds 90 degrees, which is dangerous for anyone that is in the heat for longer than advised, especially without proper hydration and preparation.

Although weather is unpredictable and cannot be prevented, even when all safety measures are taken, it never hurts to be prepared. Even though it cannot guarantee nothing will happen, the right preparation can lower the risks and produce a better possibility that people and their homes will stay safe and wallets will stay closed.