For people who looking for a warm place to stay or basic needs like charging their phone and a hot shower, several North Texas YMCAs have opened their doors. NBC 5’s Noelle Walker reports on how the Y is serving the community.
Many North Texas cities are opening warming centers as residents are left with no power and no heat while temperatures plummet to dangerous lows.
Statewide Map
Salvation Army Shelters
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
Additionally, the Salvation Army has opened inclement weather shelters in Dallas, Garland, Arlington, Plano, McKinney, and Lewisville.
YMCA Shelters
Select YMCAs serving Dallas, Denton Ellis and Rockwall counties are opening their doors between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. They expect to extend to Thursday and Friday because of the weather.
"We've had several calls of people needing a facility to come and get warm," Tricey Love of the Park South YMCA in Dallas said. "This particular YMCA, in general, is like the light of this community."
Stephen Yarmak spent Wednesday inside the Park South YMCA staying warm.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
"It's tough, you know. You have a nice place to come to stay warm and stay safe," Yarmak said getting a little choked up at the thought. "It's good. It makes you strong."
Here is a list of the YMCA warming centers in DFW:
- Moorland Family YMCA at Oak Cliff
- Park South YMCA
- Waxahachie Family YMCA
- White Rock Family YMCA
- J.E.R. Chilton Family YMCA at Rockwall
- Richardson Family YMCA
- Cross Timbers Family YMCA
- Semones Family YMCA
Hot coffee, charging stations, WiFi access and water stations will be available. Locker rooms at these branches are also open for those who need a hot shower - families can have exclusive use of the locker rooms for showers in 20 minute intervals. Everyone is asked to wear a mask and stay within their family unit while inside the branch. Families can access the facility for 3 hour windows but can stay longer if there is no waiting list for folks to come in, and the facility is not at capacity. Families may also bring food to warm up in microwaves where available. Spaces will be set up to maintain social distancing.
Local Shelters
Below is a list of North Texas cities and the steps they're taking to help residents stuck in ERCOT's controlled power outage.
Arlington
Arlington is sponsoring two warming centers and has several hotel partners offering discounted rates due to the power outages. See hotel availability on at www.arlington.org/hotels/winter-storm/. More resources will be shared as they become available.
The Salvation Army at 712 W. Abram Street is open as the city’s primary warming station. Additionally, the city announced Tuesday that a second emergency warming station is being opened for residents without power during these extreme winter weather conditions. The City’s Dottie Lynn Recreation Center at 3200 Norwood Lane is open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. This location is not open for overnight shelter and no meals or drinks are provided, so those who come to the temporary warming station will need to bring the items they need. Pets are not allowed in the facility. We appreciate your understanding. To protect public health during the coronavirus pandemic, face masks will be required.
The Arlington Water Utilities South Service Center at 1100 S. Green Oaks Boulevard will open as an overnight shelter from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Pets are not allowed.
The city of Arlington and the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered with several local hotels to offer special rates to those displaced by the weather. For more information, click here.
Dallas
The City of Dallas is opening a warming center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center at 650 S Griffin Street. The warming center is a 24-hour intake until noon on Wednesday, Feb. 17 and opens at 7:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. Residents can access the warming center on Canton Street (pass the guard shack and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters). The warming center is located in Exhibit Hall A. Residents will be provided a chair and table, and should bring in meals for themselves and their family if they are able to. Water, coffee and light snacks will be made available. The warming center is not an overnight shelter and cots will not be provided. A COVID-19 screening will be required at sign-in. No ID is required. The warming center is set-up for proper social distancing, mask usage is required. The City of Dallas continues identifying City resources such as recreation centers and libraries to be used as neighborhood warming centers and is working with Oncor to prioritize the sites for power restoration and exemption from rolling blackouts.
The City of Dallas is informing residents in need of a warming center to call 211 Texas for location information. Dallas is working on opening more warming centers, but until then residents can dial 211 or 877-541-7905 for more information. Updates can be found on the City of Dallas and Dallas Fire-Rescue Twitter pages.
Denton
The new warming center in Denton will be located at MLK Jr. Recreation Center and take the place of the one located at the Civic Center. All supplies and people will be moved to ensure better electricity reliability. Residents can keep up with Denton updates using their Twitter page.
DeSoto
Faith Bible Church in DeSoto is opening as an emergency shelter. Pre-registrations are not necessary and walk-ins are welcome, organizers announced on social media.
"In case you are without electricity and heat and are in need of someplace to warm up, the City of DeSoto has opened a shelter in Faith Bible's gym," a post on the church's Facebook read. "There are cots, electricity, heat, security - and you are welcome here!"
The church is located at 1437 West Pleasant Run Road.
Euless
The City of Euless has opened a warming center at the Euless Family Life Rec Center, 300 W. Midway.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is opening a warming center at the Fort Worth Convention Center, downtown at 1201 Houston Street.
The city COVID-19 screening would take place before people entered. Cots will be provided, but people should bring their own blankets. No food will be provided.
The city said they did not have a way to allow animals inside.
The convention center shelter will run from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Thursday morning.
Warming shelters open during the day will be available at the Worth Heights Community Center, Handley Meadowbrook Community Center and Diamond Hill Community.
The daytime shelters will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Worth Heights Community Center
3551 New York Ave
817-392-8722
Handley Meadowbrook Community Center
6201 Beaty St
817-392-2830
Diamond Hill Community Center
1701 NE 36th
817-392-5485
One Safe Place
1101 Hemphill St
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price is asking faith-based or non-profit organizations that are planning on opening a facility as a warming station to fill out an online registration. The city will then compile an updated list of warming centers.
Grand Prairie
The city opened the Ruthe Jackson Center at 3113 S. Carrier Parkway as a warming center at 7 p.m. Tuesday and said it would stay open until the weather improves.
The city said pets would not be allowed in the facility, there will not be sleeping bags or cots and coffee would be provided. Residents were invited to bring their own snacks.
Hurst/Euless/Bedford
Bedford, in partnership with the City of Hurst and HEB ISD, will be opening a warming center starting at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at Central Junior High, 3191 W. Pipeline Road in Euless. The warming center is expected to transition to an overnight shelter for anyone in need. While some cots will be available, people are encouraged to bring their own sleeping bags, mats, blankets, and pillows. There will be an approximate 150-person maximum capacity. Masks are required. Water will be provided but everyone is encouraged to bring their own food and medicines. Please be advised, no showering facilities will be available and no pets will be allowed at this time.
Irving
The City of Irving opens the Senior Park Recreation Center as a warming center for those without power on Monday, Feb. 15. All visitors will be mandated to wear face masks and socially distance from other households. Visitors may bring pets, medications, oxygen, and PPE/face masks, however, they may not bring any luggage. The warming center is located at Senior Park Recreation Center at 901 Senter Road. Those seeking transportation can call 972-721-6448. According to a release, Irving is working to provide additional warming facilities soon. To keep up with general updates from Irving, go to CityofIrving.org or visit their Twitter or Facebook pages.
Kennedale
The Kennedale Public Library is open as a warming station at 316 W. Third Street. Residents are welcome to bring cots, pillows, blankets or sleeping bags if they want to spend the night.
Winter Weather Recovery
After several days of sub-freezing temperatures, some melting is expected Friday and Saturday.
Mansfield
There are four warming centers open for Mansfield residents.
- The Chris W. Burkett Service Center, 620 S. Wisteria St.
- The Mansfield Activities Center, 106 S. Wisteria St.
- St. John's Lutheran at 1218 E. Debbie Lane, 817-473-4889
- Walnut Ridge (West) in Rendon,7550 Rendon Bloodworth Road
For information regarding the shelters, call 817-728-3609.
McKinney
McKinney is activating their M.E.O.W.S program -- McKinney Emergency Overnight Warming Station. The warming station is located at the Salvation Army at 600 Wilson Creek Parkway. The shelter opens at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The last entry is at 10 p.m. For more information call or text 214-945-4637.
Two city-sponsored sites opened Tuesday -- at McKinney Boyd High school, which is open overnight, and the Roy and Helen Hunt Library, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other warming centers in McKinney include:
- Crosspoint Church (2101 South Stonebridge Drive). Warming station for senior adults until further notice. Call (972) 562-2200 for more information. If you are a senior in need of a warm place, text the word "snow" to 972-833-0899. They are also in need of bottled water, dry snacks, blankets, extra coats, and power strips.
- Salvation Army (600 Wilson Creek Parkway), open overnight. For more information call or text 214-945-4637 before heading to this location.
- McKinney First United Methodist Church, shelter open at The Hub at 102 Lamar. Please call 972-214-9219 to check capacity before driving there. The Hub is their youth building across the street from the church. They have hot coffee, places to charge your devices, warm water, and a kitchen to heat food. Should the need arise, you can bring a sleeping bag or blanket and get some rest in a Sunday School room. If you would like to warm up here, please remember to wear a mask. Our COVID safety protocols are still in effect. They can allow pets in crates/carriers.
Mesquite
The city of Mesquite opened the Evans Recreation Center at 1116 Hillcrest Street as a warming station at 11 a.m. Tuesday. It will remain open until 6 p.m and run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
Except for service animals, no pets will be allowed inside.
North Richland Hills
Warming stations are located across the city of North Richland Hills.
To find the nearest warming station, residents should call the Station Hotline at 817-427-6001, and try 817-281-1000 if you are unable to reach the hotline. North Richland Hills will be sending out updates on their Twitter page.
"If you have a police, fire, or medical emergency please call 9-1-1. Public Safety personnel are here and ready to respond as always," the city says.
Also in North Richland Hills, The Hills Church at 6300 Northeast Loop 820 is open as a warming station through Tuesday night.
Parker County
All Parker County cities are working with the county to open a warming center in Hudson Oaks in response to the winter storm.
The warming center will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. at High Ridge Church at 1000 Cinema Drive, Hudson Oaks, Texs 76087.
Anyone who chooses to stay will have to follow COVID-19 safety protocols and bring their own blankets and snacks. Pets are permitted but must be leashed or in a carrier.
Plano
The City of Plano is partnering with Grace Church in Plano to open an emergency warming center. The church is located at 3301 Preston Road at the corner of Preston and Parker roads.
The warming center will be open around the clock until Thursday evening.
People who stay at the warming center are asked to follow COVID-19 safety protocols and are encouraged to bring their own blankets, water and snacks.
Pets will not be allowed.
Richardson
On Tuesday, First Baptist Church and Area Developer Durkin Properties LLC opened sites to offer Richardson residents a refuge from the cold and operating hours at both sites are being extended to tomorrow.
Space at each site is limited and food is being provided on a limited first-come first-served basis. Both locations also have running water and restrooms. The location operated by Durkin Properties LLC is offering individual meals provided by neighborhood restaurants Monkey King Noodle Company, Dog Haus Biergarten, and Lockwood Distilling Company. Meals are available as long as supplies last.
The locations being used have been converted for temporary use as a warming center and both sites recommend people bring cots, blankets, air mattresses, snacks, board games/activities, and any other items to make their stay as comfortable as possible.
A full list of warming center accommodations is below:
- Fire Station #3 (lobby)
2519 Custer Pkwy
Open 24-hours - First Baptist Church
1001 N Central Expressway
Open until 5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 17 (will re-evaluate operating hours as needed) - First United Methodist Church
503 N. Central Expressway
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Methodist Richardson Medical Center
2831 E President George Bush Hwy
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Richardson Civic Center
411 W. Arapaho Rd.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Richardson Police Department HQ Lobby
200 N Greenville Ave
Open 24-hours - Office Building Operated by Durkin Properties LLC
500 Lockwood Dr. (at Custer Rd. and Lockwood Dr.)
Open until further notice
Sachse
The Chase Oaks Church Woodbridge Campus will serve as a warming shelter in Sachse. The facility opened Tuesday at 2 p.m. and will stay open overnight.
For people who still have power, the facility is accepting donations of cots and sleeping bags, blankets, coats, bottled water, individually wrapped snacks, plastic cutlery and paper plates.
Face covering are required for entrance.
Southlake
Southlake city will have a temporary warming center located at the DPS North Station at 100 E. Dove Road. There will be coffee, water and electricity. Social distancing will be required and pets are not allowed. Residents can visit the City of Southlake Twitter page for more updates.
