JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Another round of storms is expected to bring more cold weather to Mississippi.

Part of the state could see a wintry mix Thursday evening into Friday morning. Officials with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said neighbors should prepare their homes, bring pets and plants inside and check on their loved ones.

“You should always have a plan, a backup plan to heat your home. So, if their power goes out, have some extra blankets on hand, things like that. You can shut off, different areas of your home, so just one area of your room will stay warmer than the others. Shut off, doors to other areas of the house. So, you have all the people in one area, and that area will stay warmer from just from the body heat and things like that,” said Eric Bullard with MEMA.

Here are some preventative measures to keep your home safe:

• Leave your faucet running with a slight drip and open the cabinet doors under your sinks.
• Look at the trees around your property and cut back branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken.
• Clearing the debris from your gutters will help prevent ice dams by allowing meltwater to drain freely.
• Evaluate the insulation and ventilation (roof or soffit vents) in your attic, keeping the warm air in your home and out of your attic.
• Perform maintenance checks on your vehicle. Check the battery, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels. Fill up with gas, pack emergency supplies and keep a windshield scraper on-hand to remove ice.

As you heat your home, keep fire safety in mind.

• Keep clothes, drapes, and anything else combustible at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment, especially space heaters.
• Never leave space heaters on when you are away from home.
• Never plug space heaters into extension cords. Plug electric space heaters directly into an outlet.
• All heating equipment should be UL® approved.
• Inspect the space heater’s power cord for damage, fraying or heat. If the cord inspection reveals any of these issues, the heater should be replaced.
• Never use space heaters while you sleep or in areas where children may be without adult supervision.
• Always unplug space heaters when they are not in use. The heater should also be equipped with a tip over shut-off switch.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat living spaces.
• If using a gas heater, install a carbon monoxide detector.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
• Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home.
• Make sure everyone in your home knows how to get out and where to meet outside.
• Once everyone is outside a burning home, call 911 and don’t go back inside the home under any circumstances.

The winter weather could impact driving conditions in Mississippi. Crews with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) started treating major roads, bridges and overpasses across the state on Tuesday.

Crews are prepping interstates in the Jackson-metro, including I-55 and I-20.

“We’re pre-treating roads with a salt brine. And what we do, it’s a liquid material, we put down on the roadways and that lowers the freezing temperature on roadways, bridges and overpasses. So if any frozen precipitation does accumulate there, it will take longer to freeze, which will help keep our roads, roadways open and the traveling public safe,” said David Kenney, public information officer for MDOT.

If ice sticks to roads and bridges, Kenney advised drivers to stay home. If you have to be on the road, use caution.

Click here to keep up with the Storm Team 12 forecast.