HOUSTON – With freezing temperatures on the horizon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wants residents to know the county is gearing up to help keep people safe and warm, but with no snow plows or ability to clear secondary streets if needed, there will be limitations.
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Local officials are asking Houstonians to take precautions as the significant winter weather system approaches, impacting the region from Monday through Thursday bring sleet, snow and freezing temperatures.
Hazardous travel conditions ahead
The big concern? Icy roads that could make getting around dangerous.
Judge Hidalgo asked people to plan on being in the same place from Monday night until possibly Thursday and asked businesses to be considerate of the dangerous conditions.
Power outages less likely this time around
As far as power outages go, the Public Utilities Commission is confident the grid will hold up, according to Hidalgo.
Unlike the freeze in 2021 that hit the whole state, this time it’s mostly the Houston area, so the risk of widespread outages is lower.
Officials did warn however, that if your power goes out, you need to have a plan. With road conditions expected to be treacherous, getting to people in those conditions could be challenging.
Warming centers open for those in need
For those who may need help during the cold snap, 35 warming centers will open across Harris County starting Sunday evening. These centers will stay open through Thursday, providing shelter and resources.
The Coalition for the Homeless, along with the Salvation Army and other agencies, is working to make sure no one is left out in the cold. “We want to make sure no one spends the night on the streets,” said Chris Haynes, Chairman of the Coalition for the Homeless.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said starting Sunday at 6 p.m., the city will open 10 warming centers to provide shelter and relief to those in need. The warming centers will remain open 24/7 until midday Thursday.
The locations include:
- Acres Home Multi-Service Center at 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
- Northeast Multi-Service Center at 9720 Spaulding St.
- Kashmere Multi-Service Center at 4802 Lockwood Dr.
- Moody Community Center at 3725 Fulton St.
- Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St.
- Fonde Community Center at 110 Sabine St.
- Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at 1475 W. Gray St.
- Southwest Multi-Service Center at 6400 High Star Dr.
- Magnolia Multi-Service Center at 7037 Capitol St.
- Sunnyside Multi-Service Center at 4410 Reed Rd.
First responders on standby for emergencies
Houston’s first responders are also gearing up, with over a thousand officers ready for the Chevron Marathon this Sunday. Fire Chief for the Cy-Fair Fire Department, Amy Ramon, is the is asking people to avoid calling 911 with non-emergency calls, so they can stay focused on critical situations.
Ramon cautioned that with cold weather, space heaters and portable generators can be dangerous, and asked people to keep an eye out for fire and carbon monoxide risks. She also encourage everyone to have two ways to escape their homes in case of fire and for families to discuss emergency plans.
Authorities also asked people to go to shelters rather than hospitals unless they had a medical emergency.
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Prepare now and stay safe
As we brace for the cold, officials are reminding everyone to protect pets, plants, and pipes, and if you can, stay home.
How you can prepare
Residents are encouraged to take their own precautions while the county is stepping up its efforts. Here are some links that will help you prepare:
- FAUCETS: To drip or not to drip those faucets? Here’s what we know from Harris County, Houston officials
