San Antonio, Bexar County open warming centers as winter weather sets in

Freeze will be less severe than last year’s, but officials taking precautions seriously

A sign blocks an on ramp to Interstate 410, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in San Antonio. Another light freeze is expected later this week. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

SAN ANTONIO – The city opened four public warming centers on Thursday as freezing temperatures are expected later this week.

The four public warming centers are:

  • Garza Community Center, 1450 Mira Vista
  • Hamilton Community Center, 10700 Nacogdoches
  • Denver Heights Community Center, 300 Porter
  • Harlandale Community Center, 7227 Briar Place

Pets are welcome, and Animal Care Services will help provide shelter at the warming centers. They will open at noon.

Anyone who does not have transportation can call 311 and the city will provide a ride, officials said.

Bexar County also opened the following six locations as warming centers:

  • ESD 2 – 2096 Talley Rd, San Antonio, TX 78251
  • ESD 3 – 23103 Bulverde Rd, San Antonio, TX 78260
  • ESD 8 – 20825 Babcock Rd, San Antonio, TX 78255
  • China Grove – 2456 FM 1516 S, China Grove, TX 78263
  • Leon Valley Convention Center – 6427 Evers Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238
  • Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office – 9810 Southton Road, San Antonio, TX 78223

Officials say the Bexar County sites will remain open until noon on Friday.

Sites will remain open during these hours until the inclement weather has passed. All residents are welcome at each facility. Snacks and bottled water will be available.

Though this freeze is not expected to be nearly as severe as last year’s winter storm, officials are using what they learned from that storm to prepare for this week’s weather.

“CPS Energy has taken the appropriate steps to have access to more gas supplies, we’ve put more gas in storage, we’ve got a more diverse set of suppliers,” said interim CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza.

The city will also activate its Emergency Operation Center starting Thursday and lasting through the duration of the freeze, according to Police Chief William McManus.

Police, along with TxDOT, will monitor the roads and interchanges as the temperature drops.

“We do not want our litmus test of when to shut these interchanges down to be the first car crash,” McManus said. “So we will anticipate at what temperature these flyovers will freeze and then we’ll shut them down at that point.”

Read more:

Winter Weather Advisory issued for San Antonio and surrounding areas Thursday

TxDOT prepping roads ahead of freezing temperatures


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