Houston opens more than 30 warming centers ahead of severe freeze

HOUSTON — More than 30 warming centers will open across Houston and its surrounding areas this weekend as the region prepares for an incoming blast of freezing rain and snow.

The National Weather Service expects temperatures to plunge below freezing on Sunday and Monday following several days of rain. Winter storm and extreme cold warnings are scheduled to take effect at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Officials in Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties announced the centers will provide residents with shelter and a place to charge electronic devices. Some locations will also accommodate pets.

Mayor John Whitmire said the outreach efforts are primarily focused on the homeless population. According to January 2025 statistics, approximately 1,200 people are living on the streets in Harris County.

Last year, 1,300 people sought refuge at city warming centers. While only four of the city’s 12 centers are equipped with permanent backup generators, officials said portable units will be deployed in the event of power outages.

Houston’s rapid mobilization of warming centers ahead of the latest cold snap is more than a routine seasonal response; it is a calculated effort to exorcise the ghosts of the 2021 Texas power grid collapse. The trauma of Winter Storm Uri, which left millions of residents without electricity or heat for days, remains a defining policy catalyst for the state. Consequently, any forecast of extreme temperatures now triggers a level of municipal readiness that reflects a post-disaster shift in emergency management.

However, the city’s current strategy also exposes lingering infrastructure deficits. The fact that only four of Houston’s 12 designated warming centers are equipped with permanent backup generators is a glaring vulnerability. Relying on mobile units indicates a stopgap approach to disaster mitigation rather than a long-term capital investment in climate resilience. This raises critical questions about the city’s operational capacity should a freeze trigger the kind of prolonged, widespread grid failure seen three years ago.

Furthermore, the activation of these centers highlights the deepening crisis of urban homelessness in the United States. While warming centers serve as a vital safety net, they remain temporary fixes for systemic social issues. Proactive outreach to the unhoused population is a necessary public safety measure, but it ultimately underscores the disproportionate risk that climate volatility poses to the most vulnerable. For Houston, the challenge is no longer just managing the weather, but addressing the structural inequities and infrastructure gaps that extreme weather inevitably exploits.

Houston is home to one of the most vibrant and populous Vietnamese communities in the United States. This severe cold snap is directly impacting the lives of tens of thousands of families, particularly across neighborhoods like Bellaire and Alief. Many small business owners—from local nail salons to phở restaurants—are facing the difficult decision to close temporarily for the safety of their staff and customers, leading to a significant loss in revenue. Families are also bracing for potential power outages and burst pipes, a painful memory from the 2021 freeze. While many residents have better prepared themselves since that disaster, the risks to our elderly and low-income households remain a major concern for the community.