By Edmond Ortiz
San Antonio-area authorities and nonprofits are getting their community members ready for what meteorologists are calling one of the more major winter weather events to hit the region in recent years.
What is happening
The approaching storm, called Winter Storm Fern by the Weather Channel, is due to affect more than 200 million people across parts of the South, Midwest and Northeast, with forecasts calling for below-freezing temperatures, snow and ice lasting from Jan. 23 through 26,
Meteorologists warn that the storm could disrupt travel and cause lengthy power outages over much of the affected area, including northern, central and eastern Texas.
Locally, the National Weather Service for Austin/San Antonio has issued an Extreme Cold Warning to begin the evening of Jan. 24 through early Jan. 26. The NWS forecasts lows ranging from 5 to 25 degrees and wind chill values as low as 5 below zero over parts of the Hill Country and southern Edwards Plateau.
As of publication of this article, most forecasts for the San Antonio-area call for freezing rain to develop across the Hill Country early Jan. 24, and spread southeast into the same evening and next morning.
What you should know
City agencies and nonprofit organizations across the San Antonio area are making a variety of preparations, including opening public warming centers, and helping homeless individuals get out of the Arctic cold.
San Antonio
The city will open six overnight resilience hubs starting on Jan. 24. Such hubs will remain open through noon Jan. 26 to provide residents with a safe and warm place to stay, according to a press release.
These hubs will offer basic needs and supplies, access to power and device charging, and free wi-fi. Anyone arriving at these locations are asked to bring clothes, supplies, and medicine. Kennels will be available for pets in a separate area at these locations, the release stated:
- Copernicus Community Center, 5003 Lord Road
- Garza Community Center, 1450 Mira Vista
- Miller’s Pond Community Center, 6175 Old Pearsall Road
- Normoyle Community Center, 700 Culberson
- Northeast Senior Center, 4135 Thousand Oaks
- Southside Lions Senior Center, 3303 Pecan Valley Drive
City officials said San Antonio public library branches, community centers, and senior centers will serve as places to stay warm during their regular daytime hours of operation. Details can be accessed at this link: SA.gov/ColdWeather or by calling 3-1-1 (210-207-6000) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
VIA Metropolitan Transit passengers may travel fare-free to or from these locations using VIA bus service or VIA Link within Link service zones, the release stated. Riders are asked to alert the bus operator when boarding; VIAtrans passengers should alert the reservation agent when booking a VIAtrans trip. Individuals with disabilities who need transportation are encouraged to call 3-1-1 (210-207-6000) to arrange a ride.
San Antonio officials are also working with local organizations to reach unsheltered individuals and offer them temporary overnight shelter space at these locations:
- City of San Antonio Bode Community Center, 901 Rigsby Ave.
- Communities Under the Bridge, 724 Chestnut St.
- Corazon San Antonio, 504 Avenue E
- New Direction Church, 1139 Gembler Road (all genders) and 1802 Guadalupe St. (women only)
According to the press release, pets are welcome at all shelter locations. The Homeless Services and Strategy Street Outreach Team is offering transportation to shelters, and distributing emergency blankets and supplies to people who decline going to a shelter.
Additionally, the city’s Community Connections Hotline (210-207-1799) is operating 24 hours beginning at 8:00 Jan. 24 to support our unsheltered individuals.
San Antonio Water System offers tips in case of an emergency. According to a SAWS press release, generators have been added to key sites to ensure water service. Customer service operations will continue normal hours on on Jan. 23 and 26, and emergency services will remain available around the clock, SAWS officials said.
SAWS representatives advised customers that while underground system pipes will not freeze, prolonged cold can affect household plumbing, especially pipes in exterior walls and above‑ground sprinkler heads.
SAWS officials encouraged customers to insulate exposed pipes, make sure indoor plumbing remains heated, and, if needed, run a slow drip from a bathroom faucet farthest from the kitchen to maintain water flow.
The home page of CPS Energy’s website contains ways to stay safe during a winter storm, places to keep warm, and how to get the status of local power outages if they occur during the storm.
Bexar County
The county will operate public warming centers from 6 a.m. Jan. 24 to noon Jan. 26:
- Emergency Service District No. 7 Annex, 11591 Galm Road
- St. Padre Pio Catholic Church, 3843 Bulverde Pkwy.
- Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1129 Pat Booker Road, Universal City
- The Rock United Methodist Church, 1784 N. Loop 1604 E., Saint Hedwig
- South Side Baptist Church, 2010 S. Loop 1604 E.
The county is offering other winter preparedness resources and tips.
Boerne/Kendall County
Patrick Heath Public Library, 451 N. Main St., will be open as a warming center 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 24 and 25. The city of Boerne is providing other winter safety tips.
Cibolo/Guadalupe County
Cibolo will be closing its public parks and athletic facilities Jan. 24-26, and the Cibolo Senior Program will have no activities Jan. 26.
Cibolo and Guadalupe County residents may use the Seguin Public Library as a public warming center, which will be active Jan. 24-27. The address is 313 W. Nolte St.
New Braunfels/Comal County
Das Rec, the New Braunfels Public Library, the Westside Community Center, the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center, and the New Braunfels National Airport will remain open with normal hours of operation over the weekend.
New Braunfels public warming centers include:
- Westside Community Center, 2932 S. I-35 frontage road (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 24-26)
- Crisis Center of Comal County, 655 Landa St. (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 26-28)
- Gruene United Methodist Church, 2629 E. Common St. (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Jan. 24, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 25)
- NB Housing Partners – First Footing Shelter, 4120 Loop 337 (5 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Jan. 23-27)
Landa Park Golf Course will be closed beginning Jan. 24 and until noon Jan. 27. Restrooms, water fountains, and other facilities in all city parks will be closed Jan. 23-27 until freezing temperatures end.
Texas Department of Transportation is pre-treating state roads with brine, and will offer additional road treatments as weather worsens, agency representatives said Jan. 22. TxDOT officials urged motorists to stay off the roads over the weekend, if possible.
Local authorities are also urging residents to stay tuned to their local school district, college and university to see if their operations are affected by the wintry weather.
