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Houston opens 12 warming centers, offers Metro rides and mental‑health staff ahead of Arctic blast
Summary
Houston officials said 12 multiservice warming centers will open at 8 p.m. tomorrow, Metro will provide rides, and mental‑health caseworkers will be stationed at two high‑traffic centers as cold, dry conditions arrive. Fire Department officials urged generator and space‑heater safety.
Houston officials announced the opening of 12 multiservice warming centers and a package of support services as a cold, dry front moves into the region, urging residents to check on seniors, people experiencing homelessness and others vulnerable to low temperatures.
The mayor of Houston said the centers will open tomorrow night at 8 p.m. and that Metro will provide transportation for people who need a ride. "We're opening all 12 multiservice centers," the mayor said, and added that the Bayland Center in Southwest Houston is being opened by Commissioner Briones.
The announcement came with a focused plan for on‑site mental‑health support at two locations and public‑safety guidance from the Houston Fire Department. "We will have case workers working with the health department and the mental health department to see that everyone is comfortable as possible in getting any assistance they need, certainly networking with their family members," the mayor said, identifying the Fondy Recreational Center in West Gray as one of the sites that will host caseworkers.
Fire Department leadership warned about carbon monoxide and fire risks tied to generators and portable heaters. Fire Chief Pinos said the department continues to advise residents on safe placement of generators and heaters, noting past fatalities tied to improper use. "We recommend 20 feet from the house. And as far as heaters are concerned, make sure you keep that 3 foot area between any flammables and the heaters," Chief Pinos said.
City officials asked residents and landlords to check on vulnerable people, including seniors and tenants in homes or apartments with limited heating. The mayor relayed a report from a resident that an apartment in Spring Branch had not had a working heater in four years and said the city will continue working with the council on enforcement for uninhabitable rental properties.
Officials described the expected weather as a dry Arctic blast, with chill factors possibly as low as the low 20s and freezing temperatures around 31 degrees. The mayor said the National Weather Service is the source for weather guidance and that Thursday's conditions will be reviewed before deciding whether to keep centers open that night.
Metro will provide transportation to the warming centers; officials said outreach teams will encourage people on the street to come inside but acknowledged that some will refuse shelter. The mayor said city agencies, including homeland security, HPD, fire and the health department, will coordinate 24/7 staffing at emergency operations while the event continues.
Officials said mental‑health staffing will be scaled to demand. The mayor noted that during a recent snowstorm there had been no caseworkers at Fondy and that the city intends to staff sites based on usage: "it'll be determined partly by the number of people that show up," the mayor said. He added that Fondy and West Gray were the two busiest locations during the prior storm and will have dedicated caseworkers this time.
Officials encouraged basic precautions for residents at home: protect pipes, plants and pets; do not tie pets outside in cold weather; and follow official safety guidance about generators and portable heaters.
City leaders said the emergency center was at full staffing and that they would continue to monitor conditions.
