The number of households and businesses in Texas that are still without power due to the state's catastrophic power failure has dropped to around 2.5 million as of this writing, but this still means that at least 2.5 million people are having to sleep in frigid temperatures without heat. As a result, a number of North Texas cities are reportedly opening up warming centers in an effort to help.
According to reports, the Salvation Army has opened inclement weather shelters in Dallas, Garland, Arlington, Plano, McKinney, and Lewisville, which are among the many Texas population centers where people are suffering without utilities in record-breaking sub-freezing weather conditions.
Several YMCA locations in Dallas, Denton, Ellis, and Rockwall counties have also opened their doors to people in need between the hours of 10am and 5:30pm. In the event that electricity in these areas does not turn back on by midweek, area residents will be allowed to warm up at these locations through Thursday or Friday.
"We've had several calls of people needing a facility to come and get warm," said Tricey Love of the Park South YMCA location in Dallas. "This particular YMCA in general is like the light of this community."
Area resident Stephen Yarmak reportedly took advantage of the offer by heading to the YMCA in Park South to warm up and get his bearings.
"It's tough, you know," Yarmak is quoted as saying. "You have a nice place to come to stay warm and stay safe. It's good. It makes you strong."
Among the YMCA locations that have opened up as warming centers to help those in need are:
• Moorland Family YMCA at Oak Cliff
• Park South YMCA
• Waxahachie Family YMCA
• White Rock Family YMCA
• J.E.R. Chilton Family YMCA at Rockwall
• Richardson Family YMCA
• Cross Timbers Family YMCA
• Semones Family YMCA
Texans are helping other Texans amid the power outage crisis
At each of these locations, hot coffee, charging stations, WiFi access, and water stations are available to those who need these things. Locker rooms have also been opened up so individuals and families can use them for hot showers.
Families are being allowed to stay at a location for up to three hours at a time, though they are being asked to wear a mask and stay with their family unit the entire time. If not at capacity, each location will allow a family in need to stay longer than three hours.
Families may also bring food to warm up in microwaves where available," reports NBCDFW. "Spaces will be set up to maintain social distancing."
Cities with additional warming centers and other options for people in need throughout the Dallas Metroplex area include (more details can be found at this link):
• Arlington, which has two warming centers and several hotel partners offering discounted rates
• Dallas, which has a 24-hour warming center and several other warming locations
• Denton, which has a new warming center at the MLK Jr. Recreation Center, as well as one at the Civic Center
• DeSoto, which has an emergency shelter at Faith Bible Church
• Euless, which opened a warming center at the Euless Family Life Rec Center
• Fort Worth, which opened up its convention center as a warming location
• Grand Prairie, which opened up the Ruthe Jackson Center as a warming location
• Hurst / Eudless / Bedford, which opened a warming and overnight center
There are also warming centers in the cities of Irving, Kennedale, Mansfield, McKinney, Mesquite, North Richland Hills, Parker County, Plano, Richardson, Sachse, and Southlake.
More of the latest news about the weather situation and power outages in Texas can be found at Collapse.news.
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