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Want to know how to handle these over night freeze warnings that are impacting Texas and Louisiana? This former Yankee has some helpful hacks!

Thanks to my growing up as an Air Force brat and then leading a nomadic life for years in radio, I've lived all over the country, including particularly snow-prone areas like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (K.I. Sawyer AND Kincheloe), Ohio, Iowa, and even upstate New York!

Over the years, not only did I learn I never wanted to live anywhere I had to scoop snow ever again, but I also picked up a few hacks to make life easier in freezing temps or snowy, icy weather. First off, just know, if you bust your butt on the ice, someone WILL see you. Make sure you use salt or de-icer on walkways, sidewalks, and steps to prevent falls. You really don't want to be stuck laying on the cold ground waiting for help, or God forbid, for an ambulance. I don't claim to be the smartest or most cultured, but these are a few things I've learned over the years... the hard way!

What are some easy hacks to deal with freezing temperatures in Texas and Louisiana?

Don't have an ice scraper? Your driver's license or a credit card are excellent substitutes! You don't need that credit card anyways lol

Blue credit card with world map
Laurent davoust
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Park your car with the windshield facing east, that way the ice will melt faster. I can't help you if you can't figure out which direction the sun comes up from;)

winter man brush car snow
alexkich
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Thankfully, because of the pandemic, I don't know anyone who doesn't have at least a few of those little sample-size bottles of hand sanitizer around. Use it to melt the ice off of door handles.

Panuwat Dangsungnoen
Panuwat Dangsungnoen
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Has your car lost traction in the driveway? Did you end up in a spot you can't drive out of? Use kitty litter to get traction! (And for the love, don't use the litter straight out of the cat box!)

Clumping Bentonite Cat Litter on blue scoop
oersin
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WD-40 will prevent your locks from freezing. Your dad was on to something, WD-40 can fix just about anything!

Raise up your windshield wipers before going to bed, that way they won't be frozen to the glass.

Winter Weather Descends On DC Area
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Hopefully, you already know to let several faucets in your home drip when the temps drop. Nothing is worse than busted pipes in freezing temps! Oh, and don't forget to insulate your faucets outside, too. As seen below, you can do that with a simple Whataburger cup!

Aaron Savage, Townsquare Media
Aaron Savage, Townsquare Media
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TIPS: Here's how you can prepare for power outages

KEEP READING: Get answers to 51 of the most frequently asked weather questions...

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

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