AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This story is no longer being actively updated.
The City of Austin and other surrounding areas have activated cold weather shelters due to dangerous weather conditions.
Here's a list of different locations people can go to for shelter across the Austin area amid power outages and below-freezing temperatures:
AUSTIN METRO
Churches
The Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) is providing warm, shelter space inside of area churches. The following churches are accepting people 24/7 as of Wednesday:
- Austin Stone Community Church: 1150 McNeil Rd., Round Rock
- Friendship Creekside: 14455 FM 1826, Austin (pets allowed - must be crated)
- Hill Country Bible Church: 12124 Ranch Road 620 N, Austin, TX 78750 (pets allowed - must be crated)
- Point Community Church: 11300 Old San Antonio Road, Manchaca (pets allowed - must be crated)
- Promiseland Church: 1504 E 51st Street Austin, TX 78723
- University Avenue Church of Christ: 1903 University Avenue, Austin (pets allowed)
- Mosaic Church: 12675 Research Blvd., Austin (no pet accommodations)
The City of Austin and Travis County have asked the ADRN to provide volunteers with 4x4 off-road vehicles to transport supplies, goods and emergency workers to hard-to-get-to sites. It will also be providing needed volunteers to assist in the warming centers and the ProLodge for the next three to five days.
“It’s our understanding that bitterly cold conditions will persist through Wednesday,” Daniel Geraci, executive director of ADRN, said. “Working in partnership with the City of Austin and Travis County, we’re prepared to continue deploying trained volunteers for emergency transportation and warming centers for as long as necessary.”
ADRN said monetary donations are needed to provide support. Those wishing to donate can visit the ADRN website or call ADRN’s Call Center at 512.806.0800.
According to the City, a health screening for COVID-19 will be given during registration and the temperatures of those seeking shelter will be checked.
City Shelters
Palmer Events Center: Cold weather shelters will operate 24/7 over the following several days as winter weather continues. Those at the warming center will be eligible to be transported to shelters in the evening on request. As of Thursday at 10 a.m., the events center is at capacity.
Families in need of shelter should report to the Downtown Salvation Army Shelter, located at 501 E. 8th St., by 6 p.m. Those with pets will not be turned away. Pets will be accommodated by Austin Animal Services. Those in need of a ride can contact Austin 311.
The Salvation Army for the Austin Metropolitan Area Command: KVUE spoke to Jason Whaley, community relations and communications manager, who said they won't turn any families away.
"We have an area that they'll stay because normally our downtown shelter is only for singles, men and women. But during the cold weather, we house families in these emergency circumstances in our chapel. If that gets to full, then we have other ways, other places of sending them so they'll have a nice, warm, safe place to sleep," he said.
He added that they're asking for donations of blankets, toiletries, baby wipes and more.
Schools - Warming Shelters
The University of Texas at Austin: The multi-purpose room at the San Jacinto Residence Hall is serving as a warming station until midnight Tuesday. UT said students can go to the main entrance to enter the building. A full list of facilities that are open on campus to students for warmth and shelter can be found here. If students can safely access campus, they can get warm and charge their devices.
On Wednesday, Austin City Councilmember Kathie Tovo said UT's Union is open 24/7 as a warming center for anyone and that Gregory Gym is open for UT staff/faculty/students from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The following Austin ISD campuses are open as warming centers from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.:
Barrington Elementary School: 400 Cooper Drive
Joslin Elementary School: 4500 Menchaca Road
Lee Elementary School: 3308 Hampton Road
Murchison Middle School: 3700 N. Hills Drive
For information on the 24-hour City of Austin-Travis County-operated shelters at Austin ISD locations, please contact the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center.
Schools - Overnight Shelters
The City of Austin has opened shelters on school campuses that are accepting overnight guests, specifically vulnerable populations with medical need for power.
Mendez Middle School: 5106 Village Square Dr.
Reilly Elementary: 405 Denson Dr.
Del Valle High School: 5201 Ross Road
“I know people are looking for warmth, but please do not warm up inside vehicles within garages,” said Juan Ortiz, director for the City of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “Try to stay warm by remaining in one room and wearing multiple loose-fighting layers of clothing.”
City officials said those in need to get to a warming center should do so during the day, when daylight is accessible. If you can safely shelter at home, they ask you to do so to free up space for those in need.
For those experiencing homelessness, Austin officials said it has a program in coordination with the county to provide overnight sheltering. According to officials, the sheltering program was extended to 24/7 availability during the winter weather event.
BURNET COUNTY
Churches - Warming Centers
First United Methodist Church: 1101 Bluebonnet Dr. Marble Falls, TX (no pets, bring blankets or sleeping bags) Contact: Lacy Dingman, 830-613-8471
Hill Country Fellowship Church: 200 Houston Clinic Dr. Burnet, TX (no pets, bring blankets or sleeping bags) Contact: JJ Miller, Deputy Chief of Burnet Fire Dept. 512-756-2662
CALDWELL and LEE COUNTY
Government Buildings
Southside Clubhouse: City officials say the facility (1035 S. Magnolia Ave.) is also open for shelter and warmth. However, it's not an overnight shelter, so bring food from home if you can.
Lee County Sheriff's Office: Lee County and the City of Giddings have opened a 24/7 shelter/warming station for residents at 2122 FM 448. Use the main entrance. Self-transport, or if that's not possible, call 979-716-8566 or 979-540-2700
Churches
First Lockhart Baptist Church: The church (Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco St.) is opening its doors as a 24/7 warming station until the winter storm concludes.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Showers are available Saturday, Feb. 20, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of La Grange. The church is located at 5000 Highway 71 West, across from McCourt and Sons.
Park in the back and enter through the side door that says "Café." There is only one shower, so residents are asked to be patient.
HAYS COUNTY
First Baptist Church of Wimberley, located at 15951 Winters Mill Pkwy. Call 432-634-2364.
Westover Baptist Church in San Marcos. Call 512-2144-2258.
Dripping Springs United Methodist Church, located at 28900 RR 12. Call 512-849-7123.
Kyle United Methodist Church, located at 408 West Lockhart Street. Call 512-415-6708.
Hays Hills Baptist Church in Buda. Call 512-845-3864.
Texas State: Starting Wednesday night, a Texas State shuttle bus will be set up at Bobcat Village as a warming station.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
City of Taylor
The City of Taylor's warming center is located at the Taylor ISD Main Street Intermediate School Event Center (3101 Main Street). It will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when city officials will assess the situation to determine if the center needs to remain open. The shelter does not have food, blankets or overnight capacity, but it is a secure place to stay warm during the day when residents are experiencing freezing temperatures.
Government Buildings
Williamson County Sheriff's Office: The training room inside the facility (508 Rock St., Georgetown) will open at 9 a.m. for oxygen-dependent people with rechargeable oxygen condensers who have lost power can go to specific public safety buildings to recharge. These facilities are being opened to address a critical medical need and will be open specifically for these individuals only.
Williamson County Inner Loop Annex: This facility (301 S. E. Inner Loop, Georgetown) will also open at 9 a.m. for oxygen-dependent people with rechargeable oxygen condensers who have lost power can go to specific public safety buildings to recharge.
Hutto Police Department: This building (401 Front Street, Hutto) will also open at 9 a.m. for oxygen-dependent people with rechargeable oxygen condensers who have lost power can go to specific public safety buildings to recharge.
Leander Police Department: This building (705 Leander Drive, Leander) will also open at 9 a.m. for oxygen-dependent people with rechargeable oxygen condensers who have lost power can go to specific public safety buildings to recharge.
Baca Center: 301 W. Bagdad Ave., Building 2, is open as a warming center for residents in need of a place for temporary warming and power recharges. Bring your own food, water, blankets/outerwear and chargers. No pets allowed.
Georgetown Rec Center: 1003 North Austin Ave., call 512-943-1700 for more information.
Churches
Hill Country Bible Church Lakeline, 3300 Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park (pets welcome in crates)
The Austin Stone-North, 1150 McNeil Road, Round Rock
Schools
Leander High School: Leander Independent School District confirmed to KVUE that it is using the school as a cold-weather shelter with food provided by the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
There's also additional resources helping people experiencing homelessness. At the state-sanctioned homeless encampment in southeast Austin off Highway 183, where there's anywhere between 150 to 200 people living, they're also getting some help.
The Other Ones Foundation, who has an office onsite, is using the office as a cold weather shelter for 30 people. It's also using its vans to transport people to the cold weather shelters in Downtown Austin. It plans to keep this response going until next Tuesday, if necessary.
There are a handful of people and organizations looking for help:
- Angel Healing and Recovery Church: Pastor George will be dropping off blankets and warm clothing to people experiencing homelessness at the state homeless campsite throughout the weekend. You can call or text him at 512-633-7439 to give donations.
- Garrett, a bodyguard looking to help the homeless, will be passing out blankets and warm clothing this weekend. To volunteer or to donate items, email Vidablankets@gmail.com.
- The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in South Austin is administering coats among other warm clothes to those in need. Services are offered to the homeless Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also stop by and donate clothing.
- Fatima Shaikh, the owner of The Lettuce Lab, will drop off warm clothing, blankets and food at the state homeless campsite on Sunday. To donate email Fatima, Thelettucelabaustin@gmail.com
- The local group Survive 2 Thrive will also be working with the Austin Hotel and Lodging Association to provide safe shelter and food to anyone in need.
Temperature highs for the next few days are not expected to get out of the 30s. For the latest weather updates in the Austin area, check KVUE's forecast here.
For more information, officials advise calling the 24/7 hotline at 512-305-4233 (ICEE).
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