City Of San Antonio: City Provides Update On Preparedness For Upcoming Winter Conditions

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

Saturday, January 1, 2022

SAN ANTONIO (January 1, 2022) – The National Weather Service forecast indicates a strong cold front and strong winds are expected to move through the San Antonio area overnight. Considering these conditions, the City of San Antonio has coordinated preparedness efforts with its departments, as well as CPS Energy and SAWS.

The City strongly urges all San Antonians to take proper precautions by remembering the Four Ps: People, Pets, Plants & Pipes. Below are ways the City has prepared for this winter freeze to ensure safety for all.

• People: Keep warm and dress in layers. Check on your elderly family or neighbors.
• Pets: Bring pets inside to keep them safe and healthy.
• Plants: Bring potted plants inside. Cover outdoor plants with cloth fabric.
• Pipes: cover outdoor pipes and allow faucets to slowly drip to prevent them from freezing.

Warming Centers

Unsheltered Population - The City’s Department of Human Services has been working with Nonprofit partners to prepare overnight shelter and meals for the unsheltered population. Outreach to known homeless encampments regarding the cold weather began on Wednesday December 22, 2021 and will continue through Monday. Partners provided information on shelters, transportation to shelters, and handed out cold weather supplies. Additional overnight shelter is available beginning this evening. The Human Services Department will also assist with transportation of unsheltered individuals.

The City’s Homeless Connections Hotline will be open tomorrow from 12 p.m. -6 p.m. to help connect individuals to resources and assistance through the cold weather. The Homeless Connections Hotline number is 210-207-1799.

Tenants and Homeowners - The City is prepared to open four warming centers tomorrow to offer short-term emergency shelter if conditions worsen due to a combination of freezing temperatures: precipitation, winds, and/or cold weather power outages that create dangerous inclement weather. If these centers open, the City will share specific locations will be provided tomorrow morning.

COVID mitigation plans remain in full effect (i.e., maintaining social distancing and ensuring compliance with mask wearing where feasible).

Animal Care Services

Pets should be brought indoors from the cold. Residents who notice pets being left out without proper care, or any pet in need, should call the City’s Customer Service representative at 3-1-1 or by visiting the website at saacs.info/311. Animal Care Officers will be on patrol for any violations. ACS Officers will practice a zero tolerance and will cite/impound for violations.

Roads and Traffic Infrastructure

The San Antonio Police and Public Works Departments are prepared to activate the City’s Ice Plan in coordination with TxDOT should precipitation occur. Public Works have crews on call, should any traffic equipment have a malfunction due to the expected wind conditions.

311 Customer Service

311 will extend their hours for tomorrow, Sunday, January 2, 2022 and will be available from 8am to midnight.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.