City Of San Antonio Provides Winter Weather Response Update

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

February 15, 2021

SAN ANTONIO— The City of San Antonio continues to respond to the winter weather conditions in our area. San Antonio received between three to four inches of snow overnight, with some areas receiving as much as six inches of snow. As snow melts, it will form ice. Temperatures have remained in the 20s, continuing the freezing conditions. The public is asked to continue to stay home unless travel is necessary. The region is expected to see another freezing weather event beginning Tuesday night into Wednesday, February 16. Residents are encouraged to report any service issues to 311.

As a result of the dangerous, icy conditions many City streets, Bexar County roads and some portions of TxDOT highways are closed or extremely dangerous. Road closure information can be found at this page: https://www.sanantonio.gov/PublicWorks/News-and-Media/Street-Closures

CPS Energy is reporting outages across the entire region. Rotating outages began at 1:30 a.m. There is a significant shortage across Texas with power plants shut down across the state. These outages could continue through Tuesday. Critical facilities, such as hospitals and storm response, will not lose power. CPS continues to ask customers to stay inside and prepare for long term outages. For continued updates from, please follow CPS Energy on Twitter.

The National Weather Service provides the following information to stay warm when the power is out:

• Close blinds and/or curtains to keep in some heat
• Close off rooms to avoid wasting heat
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing
• Eat and drink. Food provides energy to warm the body. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Stuff towels or rags in crack

The San Antonio Fire Department also provides winter weather safety information at this link.

• Keep heaters at least three feet from anything that can catch fire.
• Do not use an oven to heat a home.
• Only use generators outside, at least 20 feet from windows and doors.

Road Closures

The following roads are closed due to icy conditions. For more information on street closures, visit: https://www.sanantonio.gov/PublicWorks/News-and-Media/Street-Closures

The following roads will be closed beginning at 3 p.m.

• All major highways to include:
  - North and south bound lanes of 281 from loop 410 to 1604
  - East and West bound lanes of IH 10 from Loop 410 to 1604
  - East and West bound lanes of Loop 1604 from 281 to IH 10
  - Hwy 151 between Loop 410 to 1604
  - 1604 East and West from IH10 to 281
  - US 281 North and South between Basse Rd to IH 35
  - US 281 at IH 35
  - Wurzbach Parkway (NW Military to IH 35)
  - Loop 1604 between 281 and I-35 North
• Loop 1604 Overpasses / Flyovers
  - Loop 1604 West & Hwy 90 W
  - Loop 1604 West & Hwy 151
  - Loop 1604 West & IH 10 West
  - Loop 1604 East & US 281 North
• Loop 410 Overpasses / Flyovers
  - NW Loop 410 & Hwy 151
  - NW Loop 410 & IH 10 West
  - NW Loop 410 & US 281
  - NE Loop 410 & US 281
  - SE Loop 410 & IH 37 South
• Downtown Loop – Upper Levels & Ramps
  - Upper level of inbound IH 10 West downtown
  - Upper level of IH 35 Northbound and Southbound downtown
  - Downtown Loop

San Antonio Police Department

• SAPD responded to 1,178 calls for service for vehicle crashes between February 13 and February 15 (this could include duplicate calls for service). 13 SAPD vehicles were damaged.
• SAPD has been working to maintain road closures and cleanup operations. Throughout the night and into this morning we worked to clear the highway system of crashed and abandoned vehicles.
• SAPD is currently working with TxDOT to maintain key ramp closures. We anticipate icy road conditions tonight after sundown (snow has melted into slush & water which will freeze with tonight’s temperatures).
• SAPD will continue Ice Plan operations through at least Wednesday afternoon depending on the weather forecast models and road conditions.

Public Works

• The Public Works Department is monitoring roadways following the rare winter conditions and snow accumulation. Crews are assisting SAPD by placing barricades on City-maintained, bridges and overpasses to prevent drivers from crossing hazardous roadways.
• As the snow begins to melt, Public Works crews will continue to spread a gravel material that helps with vehicle traction. There are still some malfunctioning traffic signals due to rolling power outages and we urge residents to avoid driving, if possible.

San Antonio International Airport

• Passenger safety remains the number one priority at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). As a result of current weather conditions, all flights have officially been cancelled for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16, 2021. For questions regarding flight status, passengers should contact their airlines directly or visit www.flySanAntonio.com. Check SAT Twitter and Facebook social media accounts @SATairport for any updates regarding airport conditions.

Metro Health

• COVID-19 data and dashboards will not be updated through February 16. Mayor Nirenberg and Judge Wolff will not host a COVID-19 briefing tonight. Data reports, along with progress and warning indicator reports are expected to resume on February 17.
• COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the Alamodome scheduled for tomorrow, February 16th have been rescheduled to Saturday, February 20th at the same appointment times. Today’s (Monday, February 15) appointments were rescheduled last week to take place on Friday, February 19th.
• COVID-19 Testing: COVID-19 Testing Sites located at Cuellar and Ramirez Community Centers are closed through February 16 due to inclement weather. For the latest information visit the website.

Parks and Recreation

• The following San Antonio Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed to the public on Tuesday, February 16: Community Centers (including the drive-thru supper and snack meal service), Barrera Fitness Center, Reservation Desk at Ron Darner Headquarters, Fairchild and McFarlin Tennis Centers, and the San Antonio Natatorium.
• Fitness in the Park classes are canceled.

Solid Waste Management Department

• The Solid Waste Management Department will suspend all services on Tuesday, February 16. There will be no curbside collections for garbage, recycling or organics and all brush, bulky and HHW drop-off centers as well as the administrative offices will be closed.
• Additionally, there will not be curbside organics collections (green cart) for the remainder of this week. Collection crews normally servicing the green cart will be deployed Wednesday through Saturday to assist garbage and recycling collection crews get back on regular collection schedules for the brown and blue carts.

Department of Human Services

• Senior Centers: Curbside pickup and delivery of meals by the Department of Human Services is cancelled on Tuesday, February 16. Meal distribution will resume on Wednesday, February 17, at its regularly scheduled time.
• Shelter for people experiencing homelessness: The Department of Human Services (DHS), in coordination with providers, has continued to conduct on the ground outreach to those experiencing homeless to encourage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness to access available shelter options. The City and partner outreach efforts resulted in approximately 400 individuals receiving shelter Saturday night and 400 on Sunday night above the normal emergency shelter capacity. This is for Haven for Hope overflow plus churches.
• Haven for Hope is open to anyone seeking shelter from the cold.
• DHS and over a dozen homeless services providers, ministries, and street medicine partners have worked hard over the last week to reach those who are unsheltered and direct them to a safe and warm shelter.
• Since early last week, DHS has been in regular communication with outreach teams from SAMMinistries, Haven for Hope, Centro, Christian Assistance Ministries, and Corazon Ministries to update unsheltered homeless citywide about the weather forecast and shelter options and to provide transportation assistance or bus passes, cold weather gear.
• In addition, several churches opened socially distanced temporary shelters including Corazon Ministries at Travis Park Church, Church Under the Bridge, City Church, Last Chance Ministries, Life Restored Church, and First Baptist Church. There is adequate capacity to shelter, especially in the downtown area and most facilities are providing a warm place to stay and meals during the day.
• The DHS Homeless Resource Hub at 319 W. Travis St. is open daily for warming from 9 am to 4 pm, when temporary shelters begin opening.
• The City’s Homeless Connections Hotline, 210-207-1799, is available 8:00 am to 7:00 pm for information and connection to shelter resources.
• If you see a homeless person sleeping on the ground in severe weather, please call 911.
• Shelter information is available here: https://www.sanantonio.gov/gpa/News/ArtMID/24373/ArticleID/20111/City-of-San-Antonio-encourages-residents-to-limit-unnecessary-travel-and-conserve-energy-as-severe-winter-weather-enters-the-region

Animal Care Services

• The Animal Care Services shelter located at 4710 State Highway 151 will be closed to the public through Tuesday; however, ACS staff will be caring for the pets on campus. All appointments for adoptions, adoption interest and other services can be rescheduled at saacs.net.
• The City’s Animal Care Officers will remain on patrol to respond to animal related emergencies. Officers are responding to calls as quickly and as safely as possible given the weather conditions.
• Calls for service should be made through the City’s 311 customer service center via phone call, online or via the 311 mobile app.
• The Paul Jolly Center for Adoptions, located at 210 Tuleta, will be closed through Thursday, February 18th. Brooks City Base spay/neuter clinic located at 8034 City Base Landing will be closed tomorrow.

Bexar County

• Bexar County facilities will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16, 2021, due to inclement weather. Emergency and essential infrastructure services personnel will report as usual to their assigned work locations. If you are unsure of your status, please contact your immediate supervisor.
• Additionally, due to dangerous weather conditions, all Bexar County Court proceedings are canceled for Tuesday, February 16, 2021. There will always be a Magistrate on duty.
• County Office of Emergency Management continues to provide resources, materials and support to Emergency Services Districts across the County.
• All County parks will remain closed until Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Should conditions persist, this closure could be extended.
• County crews continue on 24-hour rotations with 132 people including tree-cutting crews removing fallen trees in the roadways due to ice and snow.
• County Public Works have used more than 83 tons of chat rock and covered 249 bridges and continues to monitor and treat roadways as needed.

Information in American Sign Language is also available at http://sat.ahasalerts.com/Default.aspx

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