We all know Florida Man isn’t used to the cold. One of the reasons many of us chose to live in the Sunshine State is to avoid the snow, ice and frost that plague our northern neighbors this time of year. The rest of the coldblooded nation may be having a good laugh about our frigid forecast and falling iguanas (yes, that’s a real thing), but it’s stone-cold serious business for us.
Here are some tips, collected from the Orlando Sentinel archives (because we don’t need them that often!) to make sure you weather this brief Florida ice age and not have it become a cold-weather calamity.
1. Heed this heat advice: Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable objects and make sure there is sufficient ventilation. Turn them off when you are not in the room and, experts say, when you go to sleep. Firefighters also say never use an oven or grill to heat your home.
2. Check chimneys: Homeowners with fireplaces and wood-burning stoves should clean chimneys and use dry wood. Never leave a fire unattended. Douse embers and store them in a sealed metal container.
3. Pay attention to pipes: For your house, leave all exposed water pipes running at a slow drip from the farthest faucet so that water travels through it and doesn’t freeze. If your sprinklers are on timers, remember to turn them off so they don’t turn your yard into a ice-skating rink.
4: Power your pump: Pool and spa owners should leave pumps running to make sure pipes and pool/spa systems don’t freeze.
5. Prep your vehicle: Check the coolant systems of automobiles and trucks for sufficient antifreeze to protect engines and coolant system. Travelers should consider packing certain items such as blankets and warm clothing to reduce the chance of body heat loss in the event of prolonged exposure to the cold.
6. Don’t forget the pets: This is the time for outdoor pets to come indoors to protect them from the cold. Also, be aware that some outdoor critters may end up on your porch or in your garage or shed looking for a warm place to stay.
7. Protect your plants: Cover tender plans with boxes, trash cans, sheets or blankets to collect heat radiating from the soil. When using plastic to protect plants, drape it over frames; do not allow it to touch the plants. Do not uncover plants until temperatures have risen above freezing. Leave fruit on trees. Most fruit will be damaged if temperatures dip to 26 to 28 degrees for 1 to 2 hours. If fruit freezes on the trees it is still edible for several weeks. To protect young citrus trees, mound soil at least 12 to 18 inches high around base of tree to protect graft union.
8. Dress for the cold: If going outside, layer clothing to increase insulation and remember to wear a hat — it will keep body heat from escaping rapidly.
9. Keep out the cold: Make sure weatherstripping around windows and doors is not brittle or stripped away. Update caulking around windows or doors with gaps.
10. Watch the roads – and the iguanas: Motorists who travel farther north should be aware that different road surfaces freeze at different temperatures. Concrete surfaces such as bridges and portions of interstate highways will freeze first. For those heading south, beware of falling iguanas. It’s a real thing in South Florida as the cold causes the reptiles to become immobile and fall from trees. They’re not dead; when the weather warms up, they will too.
And remember this cold snap. You may want to recall it fondly come August when you’re soaked in sweat from a temperature in the 90s and high humidity.
rsimmons@orlandosentinel.com
