TX Winter Storm Resources

KCBI has compiled some cold weather resources and information so you can stay in the know ' check it out below!

School Closings & Delays

North Texas school districts are calling off classes for Wednesday, as road conditions continue to worsen as the sleet/ice accumulates across the area. Many church services are also canceled tonight due to the winter storm, including First Baptist Church of Dallas, which has suspended all Wednesday evening programming tonight.

WFAA has a complete listing: Closings | Dallas, Texas | wfaa.com

At Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College, all scheduled classes for Thursday, Feb. 2, will be held in virtual and remote format as the campus remains closed. Classes will be conducted exclusively online with no on-campus component. If you are a student, please monitor your student email and Canvas accounts for course-specific instruction from their professors. Only essential seminary services will be provided, which include Campus Police and food services to students with meal plans. If you live in campus housing and have urgent needs due to inclement weather, contact Facilities Maintenance, (817) 921-8454.

Shelters & Warming Stations

Pray with us for those who are homeless or who have difficulty keeping warm at home and watch this space for opportunities to help.

KCBI ministry partners Mission Arlington (Arlington) and Our Calling (Dallas) are offering temporary shelter to our homeless neighbors or others who need to get warm.

With the surprise cold snap, OurCalling has an immediate need for volunteers. No orientation is required for inclement weather. Sign up at Volunteer With Us | OurCalling

They are also accepting new or gently used coats and other donations. If you'd like to help, please check out the information at these links:

• Mission Arlington | Mission Metroplex ?? Blog Archive ?? 'Baby, it's cold outside!'
• https://www.ourcalling.org/cold/

If you need a warm shelter, the city of Dallas is offering several places to seek refuge from the cold. Follow the link: Office of Emergency Management Warming Stations (dallascityhall.com)

Thanks to The Dallas Morning News, here is a list of shelter pickup zones that the city of Dallas is offering (south of I-30, downtown and in the medical district and Forest Lane areas): https://dallashomelesssolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/transpo.pdf. If you need transportation to one of those sites so that you can get to a warming shelter, call 311.

If you have a non-emergency issue in the city of Dallas, you're urged to call 311 for help in resolving it.

Additionally, WFAA reports that The Salvation Army has opened shelters in Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant counties.

• Dallas County:the Garland Corps Community Center will open for inclement weather shelter on Tuesday.
• Collin County: the McKinney Corps Community Center was activated for inclement weather shelter on Saturday and will remain open overnight through Tuesday.
• Tarrant County: the Arlington Corps Community Center was activated for inclement weather shelter on Sunday and the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center is on standby and prepared to serve families in the area as the need arises.

Two shelters are on standby in Denton County in case temps go below 32 degrees. They'll be at the Denton and Lewisville Corps Community Centers.

Arlington

The Arlington Life Shelter will start taking people in at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It's located at 325 West Division Street.

If that center reaches capacity, workers will recommend people go to the Salvation Army's Arlington center.

Fort Worth

The emergency homeless overflow shelter is activated. People experiencing homelessness who need shelter during the storm should report to the Flag Building, 1100 E. Lancaster Ave., for screening.

The public is welcome to use community centers and library locations as a warm place during regular open hours. No overnight sheltering or transportation will be provided. Call before to confirm your location is open.

Garland

GLOWS is set to open a warming station at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. That'll be at the Salvation Army Garland Boys & Girls Club Building 435 on South 5th Street.

To check for opening hours, you can call 972-495-6476.

Richardson

The Richardson Police Department, located at 200 N. Greenville Avenue, is opening its lobby for a warming shelter for those in need. The lobby will be open starting at 5 p.m. and remain open until it is no longer needed, the department said.

Road & Flight Conditions

The Texas Department of Transportation is advising that you avoid driving in icy conditions. However, if you must be out, it offers the following information at this link: Snow and ice ' winter weather driving tips (txdot.gov)

If you are scheduled to fly out today or need other information about flight delays or cancellations, Flight Aware offers this information: Live Airline Flight Cancellations Info & Statistics ' FlightAware

Or here are direct links to check flight status at DFW Airport or at Love Field:

• DFW International Airport | Flights (dfwairport.com)
• Flight Status | Dallas Love Field Airport (dallas-lovefield.com)

Power outages have affected relatively few in DFW, but should you experience an outage, you can report it here: Oncor ' Outage Map

Heat your Home Safely

To reduce the risk of heating-related fires, the Red Cross recommends these steps:

1. All heaters need space. Keep children, pets and things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
2. If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets ' never into an extension cord.
3. Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
4. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
5. Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

Staying Safe During Winter Weather

1. Wear layers of clothing, a hat, mittens and waterproof, insulated boots.
2. Be careful when tackling strenuous tasks like shoveling snow in cold temperatures.
3. Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.
4. Bring pets indoors. If they can't come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
5. Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion, and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.

A few tips from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association to prevent frozen pipes or as temps rise, if you have them, what to do:

• Insulate interior pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks, garages, attics, basements, and crawl spaces, and pipes leading to the exterior of the home.
• Identify the location of the main water shut-off valve, and make sure there is clear access in case there is a leak or a pipe suddenly bursts, and you need to shut the water off.
• If water use is not a concern, open the water faucets enough to allow a slow trickle of water to maintain the flow of water in the lines and help prevent freezing. Otherwise, to conserve water, you might consider shutting off the water at the main shut off valve, often located at the perimeter of the property near the street, and drain water currently in your pipes into storage containers to help reduce water pressure in the pipes and minimize risk of bursting a pipe due to freeze.
• Once temperatures start to rise, gradually increase the flow of water through your pipes to melt any remaining ice. Once water flow appears stable, gradually increase pressure, and monitor for any leaks. If you observe a leak, immediately shut off the water supply at the main shut-off valve and contact a plumber. You might also consider adjusting your hot water heater settings in the event your water main needs to be shut off for a prolonged period.
• Maintain a three-foot clearance around heating equipment to reduce the risk of fire.
• Create a home inventory that includes photos of your belongings and the exterior of your home.
• Save your insurer's or agent's contact information to your phone in case you need to file a claim.