Staying safe
San Antonio-area warming centers open amid brutal winter weather
The San Antonio area continues to experience frigid temperatures and major power outages, and several locations are available for people needing shelter.
On Tuesday afternoon, the City of San Antonio announced it will open a warming center at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The warming center will be open to the public beginning at 5 pm on February 16.
The facility will have several hundred cots, and the center is prepared to accept around 500 people initially, city officials said, but that capacity could be expanded. Transportation is available through VIA from 4:30-7 pm and can be arranged by calling 311. The Hemisfair parking garage is open for those who drive themselves, but the city cautions that roads are very dangerous.
Additionally, there are several other warming centers in San Antonio proper and the surrounding areas. Some centers may not be open around the clock, and many have limited capacity.
- Haven for Hope, 1 Haven for Hope Way, San Antonio
- Salvation Army Dave Coy Men’s Shelter, 226 Nolan St., San Antonio
- Corazon Ministries at Travis Park Church, 230 E. Travis St., San Antonio
- Last Chance Ministries (adults only), 404 Brady Blvd., San Antonio
- Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Centro Seguro Drop-In Center (24 and under only), 3103 West Ave., San Antonio
- Crosspoint Church, 2600 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz
- Schertz Community Center, 1400 Schertz Pkwy., Schertz
- St. James Catholic Center, 501 S. Camp St., Seguin
- Hill Country Family Services, 451 N. Main St., Boerne
The Seguin and Boerne centers are the only ones that were set up by the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
As of 3:30 pm February 16, CPS Energy reported that more than 250,000 customers — representing over 865,000 people — remained without power in the San Antonio area. CPS Energy supplies power to much of the region.
“Play it safe and take the weather forecast seriously. Stay at home if you can, and don’t make risky, unnecessary trips when ice is on the road,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg advises.