City Of San Antonio Prepares For Winter Storm

As the winter storm approaches San Antonio, the city has announced most services will remain operating as scheduled, with the following modifications:

Public Works:

  • The Public Works Department stands ready to support SAPD (the City’s Emergency Command Department) and TxDOT’s response to potentially severe winter weather conditions. Beginning Saturday, February 13, 2021, through Monday, February 15, 2021, Public Works will monitor conditions around the clock and place dozens of crews on standby.
  • Based on the weather events, Public Works will be prepared to dispatch crews from service centers to spread a gravel, de-icing mixture on highway overpasses connected to City streets that are not maintained by TxDOT.
  • Public Works will also have street sweeping crews on standby to remove accumulated de-icing material from roadways, once weather conditions have improved. Residents are urged to please contact 311 to report any concerns about fallen tree limbs or malfunctioning traffic signals.
  • Department of Human Services
  • Senior Centers: Curbside pickup and delivery of meals by the Department of Human Services is cancelled on Monday, February 15. Meal distribution will resume on Tuesday, February 16, at its regularly scheduled time.
  • Shelter for people experiencing homelessness: The Department of Human Services continues providing resource updates to homeless service providers and street outreach workers to encourage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to access available shelter options. Haven for Hope is open to anyone seeking shelter from the cold. All clients sleep indoors and are given blankets, food, snacks and cold weather clothing, including warm jackets. Haven for Hope has expanded cold weather sleeping capacity for individuals to stay inside and warm the entire weekend. DHS and SAMMinistries teams have visited known homeless encampments this week to update people experiencing homelessness about the weather forecast and offer transportation to shelters and cold weather gear. The City of San Antonio also has hotel rooms on standby in the event that additional shelter space is needed.

Emergency shelters: These locations will be practicing social distancing, requiring masks and limiting numbers

  • CUB (Church Under the Bridge) 724 Chestnut, 78202 (near Nolan and HWY 281) - 5:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday night to hand out about 40 bed tickets. It’s first come first serve. Once they have a ticket, intake process will begin at 7pm. Dinner, breakfast and a movie will be provided.
  • Life Restored Church: 400 Arbor Place will open Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday night for 20 people. People can start lining up at 5 p.m. to request a ticket for a bed and those intakes will begin at 6 p.m. They will also provide dinner, breakfast and a movie.
  • Haven for Hope is open to ANYONE seeking shelter from the cold that will be willing to shelter in place and follow CDC guidelines of social distancing and mask wearing. All clients sleep indoors and are given cold-weather clothing, including warm jackets. They will open for this emergency weather process at 3pm (Friday February 12, 2021). This is not an official campus enrollment, so no clean urine analysis or ID are required.
  • Salvation Army Dave Coy Men’s Shelter- 226 Nolan Street Nightly shelter enrollment begins at 3 p.m. daily through 8 p.m. meals provided too first come first serve. Individuals must be 18 years or older and provide a picture ID at the time of enrollment. New visitors will receive the first three nights for free and enrolled clients pay $12.50 per night.
  • Corazon Ministries at Travis Park Church: 230 E. Travis 10-12 people starting February 11th thru possibly Tuesday or Wednesday or when below freezing stops. Showers will be available. They will check people in at 4pm. taking the first 12. Light breakfast each morning guests will leave the building and the space will be cleaned for the next evening. Their medical center is open on Sundays at 8am and Thursdays at 4:00pm. They will operate as normal.
  • Last Chance Ministries: 404 Brady Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78207. They can take approximately 75 men and women (no children). Doors will open at 8 p.m. Point of contact is Pastor Janie (210) 873-0660
  • Roy Maas Youth-3103 West Ave. Alternatives Centro Seguro Drop-in Center for youth ages 24 and younger remains open 24/7

Warm supply resources and HUBs:

  • Catholic Worker House is not opening for emergency shelter but will keep moving forward with their usual food distribution Monday through Friday. They are closed on the weekends. But they will serve lunch bags Friday morning along with breakfast and hot lunch Monday morning.
  • CAM: 110 McCullough - food distribution on Friday and Saturday morning beginning at 7:30am. During distribution they will be handing out hand warmers, jackets, and blankets, socks, hats, gloves. Showers will be closed Saturday and Monday. CAM will hang signs on property for folks to know where to go. CAM will resume morning meal service Tuesday morning. Contact (210) 223-4099 orvisit their website.
  • San Fernando HUB: 319 W. Travis South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), in partnership with the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services, organized a collection drive for cold weather materials, including jackets, blankets, socks, and more. Items can be picked up at the San Fernando Homeless Resource Hub located at 319 W. Travis St. from Monday to Friday between 1 and 4 p.m. Meals are provided at this HUB as well.
  • Outreach workers and nonprofits serving the homeless have been in the field and will be disseminating information and supplies. CAM will have signs on their fences laminated all weekend to guide people where they can go for help.

Metro Health:

  • COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the Alamodome scheduled for Monday, February 15th have been rescheduled to Friday, February 19th at the same appointment times. People seeking a warm place to stay should call 211.
  • COVID-19 Testing: COVID-19 Testing Sites located at Cuellar and Ramirez Community Centers will be closed February 13th- 15th due to inclement weather. For the latest information visit the website.

Animal Care Services:

  • The best way to protect pets during a winter storm is to bring them inside. Pets (especially cats) are safer indoors. If you are unable to have pets inside, consider purchasing an insulated doghouse or build a protective enclosure that shields your pet from the elements and gives them a safe, warm place to rest.
  • Although outdoor pets need proper shelter because it protects them from the elements, it’s also the law here in San Antonio and violators face zero tolerance during extreme weather events. Fines generally start at $300 per violation.
  • Pets who stay outdoors without shelter may also seek warmth anywhere they can. To prevent a dog from escaping the yard, repair broken fencing and gates and fill in any holes along fence lines

Photo: Getty Images

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