News Flash

Jan. 7, 2015 - the Emergency Management Office says the National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory from 12 a.m.-9 a.m. Thursday. A Wind Chill Advisory means very cold air and gusty winds will combine to generate low wind chills.

Hampton will see wind gusts of 30-40 mph Wednesday night with sustained winds of 15-30. The winds will decrease overnight. Hampton will start to see the temperature drop to a low of 16 degrees Thursday morning. The wind chill for tomorrow morning will be around zero.

Thursday during the day the high temperature will be 23 degrees. A Nights Welcome is operating out of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, at 99 E. Mercury Blvd in Hampton, this week. The H.E.L.P., Inc. Day Center at 329 Buckroe Ave will be open Thursday for anyone wishing to come in from the cold.

The Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates as warranted.

Prevent Frozen Pipes From Bursting Your Budget

• Disconnect any garden hoses and drain outdoor pipes. Turn the outdoor water supply valve off and cover the exposed pipes and faucets with insulation.
• Allow a steady drip of cold water to flow from the highest faucet in your home. (Using cold instead of hot water will save you money on your energy bill.) Moving water will not freeze.
• When plumbing is near an outside wall, open cabinet doors under sinks so room heat can reach the pipes.
• Locate your private water shut-off valve so you’ll be prepared to turn your water off if your pipes do freeze and burst. If you’ve got water pouring out of your ceiling, you don’t want to have to wait even a few minutes for Public Utilities or a plumber to respond to shut off your water.

If Your Pipes Freeze

• Turn your water off at the private water shut-off valve (see below).
• Never try to thaw frozen pipes with an open flame or any electrical appliance. It’s dangerous and could damage your pipes.
• Be prepared for possible leaks as the pipes thaw.

Finding Your Private Water Shut-Off Valve
The location of the shut-off valve varies, but all buildings less than 25 years old have one. Likely locations for the private water shut-off valve include:

• Close to an outside hose bib, where the water supply pipe enters your home. The valve will be located inside a box or pipe in the ground, several feet from the exterior of your home.
• Near your water heater, or under a vanity cabinet or kitchen sink, particularly if you live in a townhouse, condominium or apartment.
• On the wall in your garage, particularly in newer homes.