CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — When thinking about Monday and Tuesday's cold weather it's important for those who may need a warm place to stay to know where they can go for shelter.
Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Delgado said offering warming centers to those who might struggle to stay warm next week is crucial to their safety.
"It's very important to make sure that the citizens of Corpus Christi have a way to stay warm during cold days and stay cool during hot days, so that's what we do," Delgado said. "We try to help the public."
He said the city will be opening up to 15 different warming centers around the city for those who need it.
"On Monday we'll be using Ben Garza Gym, Hopkins Library and McDonald's Library," Delgado said. "On Tuesday, we're going to be using all the libraries, all the senior centers and Ben Garza Gym from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a warming center."
The city also announced Monday it will be opening a cold-weather refuge center starting at 6 p.m. Monday. The refuge will be open until noon Wednesday at the Corpus Christi Gym at 3202 Cabaniss Pkwy. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Just like the city, Nueces County Judge Connie Scott said that the county also has a designated place for residents that are trying to stay warm, but that location will be different than in years past.
"We have a little bit of a problem this year because it is livestock time, and we know those facilities are being uses pretty much all over," Scott said.
Instead of using the Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds, she said the county's warming center will be at the Nueces County Community Center in Robstown.
"Anyone that needs help, anyone that can't get there, the RTA buses, if you go to a bus stop, they will take you to our facility there if you need to get in for shelter," Scott said. "It will be overnight. We will have law enforcement there at night and then regular office staff there during the day."
Offering this space for Nueces County residents is something that Scott said is vitally important to their safety.
"We want to take care of our people," she said. "We want to at least offer something like that. I mean, what kind of neighbors and people would be if we didn't care for something like that. In South Texas we are not use to this weather by any means."
Just like the RTA will be offering rides to the community center in Robstown, they will also be offering free transportation to and from the warming centers in the city.
The following warming centers will be open Monday:
- Ben Garza Gym, 1815 Howard St.
- Owen R. Hopkins Library, 3202 McKinzie Rd.
- Ben F. McDonald Library, 4044 Greenwood Dr.
- Cold weather refuge center, 3202 Cabaniss Pkwy - opens at 6 p.m.
For more information on what warming centers will be open Tuesday and Wednesday, click here.
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