TEXAS — Texas cites and counties are opening their cold weather shelters as a freeze is expected to blast through the Lone Star State beginning Thursday and remain through most of the weekend.
AUSTIN
The City of Austin will be operating three cold weather shelters with the ability to expand capacity.
People can sign up and register to go to one of these shelters at One Texas Center located at 505 Barton Springs Road.
According to Austin City Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes, four daytime warming centers will be activated on Friday and Saturday. Each will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The locations are as follows:
- Little Walnut Creek Branch Library, 835 W. Rundberg Ln, Austin, TX 78758
- Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
- Turner Roberts Recreation Center, 7201 Colony Loop Dr, Austin, TX 78724
- George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center 5801 Ainez Dr Austin, TX 78744
Cold weather shelters in Austin are activated if the forecast is predicted to be:
- 32 degrees or colder overnight
- 35 degrees, with rain/wet
- 35 degrees, with wind chill of 32 or colder
The City of Austin will be prepared to activate those shelters multiple nights in a row if the thresholds are met. Shelters will remain open during the day if temperatures do not rise above freezing.
The decision to activate these shelters will be made by Austin Public Health no later than 9 a.m. each morning, to give enough time to mobilize and activate necessary resources.
CapMetro will help transport people from that sign-up location to an actual cold weather shelter. In the morning, CapMetro will also transport people to the shelters on the nights they are activated, as well as from the shelter to the downtown area the next day. Pets are allowed at the shelters as long as they are not aggressive and are on a leash. Meals will also be provided at shelters.
SAN ANTONIO
The City of San Antonio will be opening up seven warming centers beginning Thursday, Dec. 22 at 3p.m. to offer short-term emergency shelter. Those going to the center are advised to bring their own clothes, medicine and supplies. There are kennels available for pets at the Normoyle, South Side Lions and Garza centers. Centers are inclusive and accessible.
The seven centers in San Antonio are located at:
- Normoyle Community Center 700 Culberson Ave, 78225
- South Side Lions Senior Center 3303 Pecan Valley Drive, 78210
- Garza Community Center 1450 Mira Vista, 78228
- Christ the King Lutheran Church – 1129 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, 78148
- Emergency Services District 5 – 7120 E. 6th Street, Somerset, 78069
- Emergency Services District 3 – 23103 Bulverde Road, San Antonio, 78259
- Emergency Services District 7 – 11617 Galm Road, San Antonio, 78254
VIA passengers can hitch a free ride to and from the centers. Those using VIA bus services or Link just need to alert the bus operator when boarding. Residents may also request a trip to the warming center by calling 311 (210-207-6000).
DALLAS
The City of Dallas is also preparing for the cold front by offering assistance and shelter to those in need of power or just relief from the cold weather. All City of Dallas public facilities, including libraries and rec centers, will be open and available during their regular business hours. Here is a list of warming stations that will be available.
The city is also preparing to assist the homeless during the freeze. Depending on the zone the individual is in, there are a number of shelters with pickup points available. One can also notify 311 of someone in need of a pickup.
