Cold Front Forecasted to bring Freezing Temperatures Thursday and Friday

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - Winter Weather preparations are underway at the City of Corpus Christi as we plan for the forecasted severe cold and inclement weather expected to arrive Thursday morning with most severe conditions after midnight and continuing through Friday morning. Light rain with chances of sleet and ice are possible.

Preparations began this morning to implement the City's winter weather protocols after meeting with the National Weather Service Corpus Christi office for continuous daily weather forecasts. The City has measures in place to ensure proper and safe City services in public safety, transportation, water, homelessness, animal care, and aviation services.

We plan to open the City Emergency Operations Center Thursday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m. to monitor the weather situation. The City's Customer Call Center is on standby and will be put into action if needed and provide rapid response to community needs. The Customer Call Center will be open during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and can be reached by calling 361-826-CITY (2489).

Homeless Shelters:

The City is working with multiple local homeless agencies to ensure shelter, meals, and blankets are provided for those in need.

• The Salvation Army will increase capacity by opening the sanctuary at the Center for Hope Church at 1902 Buford Street for additional persons who are homeless Thursday, January 20, and Friday, January 21 at 6:00 p.m. for overnight services.
• Persons needing shelter may also check the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission at 210 S. Alameda Street.
• The Mother Teresa Shelter at 513 Sam Rankin Street will be open Thursday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for meals and shelter.
• Metro Ministries at 1919 Leopard Street is distributing cold-weather gear and will serve lunch and dinner as part of their normal weekday operations. They will open the cafeteria at 9:00 a.m. as a warming center during the day.
• City staff is conducting outreach today and Thursday, handing out blankets, socks, hats, and information on where the homeless can find shelter.
• The Gulf Coast Humane Society is donating its services by hosting the pets of homeless persons as needed.

Warming Centers:

The City will offer daytime warming centers within the city limits that are free and open to anyone. City Warming Centers are not a place to sleep or eat. No pets are allowed, and no food will be provided. Strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place to include temperature checks upon entry, and facemasks are recommended. Visitors will be expected to follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State COVID-19 recommended guidelines such as maintaining six feet social distancing, along with other best personal-protection practices.

Thursday, January 20, and Friday, January 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. *Friday opening time subject to change based on inclement road conditions

Saturday, January 22, from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• Broadmoor Senior Center 1651 Tarlton Street 826-3138
• Ethel Eyerly Senior Center 654 Graham Road 826-2330
• Northwest Senior Center 9725 Up River Road 826-2320
• La Retama Library, 805 Comanche Street, will open Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• The Ben F. McDonald Library at 4044 Greenwood Drive will open Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

County Warming Center:

• Nueces County will open a warming center at the Richard Borchard Fairgrounds from 3:00 p.m. Thursday until 3:00 p.m. Friday.

COVID-19 Testing:

• Testing will take place Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the former Memorial Hospital at 2602 Hospital Boulevard.
• Due to inclement weather, the testing site will be closed Friday and resume operations Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Animal Care Services:

Corpus Christi Animal Care Services (ACS) will have two Officers and another on standby responding to calls of animals without shelter.

• Officers will be educating those owners about the cold and care of their pets.
• If needed, ACS will take the appropriate action for pets found in difficult circumstances where their well-being is in jeopardy.
• During regular business hours, call the Customer Call Center at 361-826-CITY (2489) to place a call for service for an Officer to respond to a pet in need or, after hours, call the police department's non-emergency number at 361-886-2600.

Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA):

There are no cancellations currently. Please check with your air carrier before heading to the airport.

Solid Waste:

• On Friday, the Island and Flour Bluff are the collections routes. Garbage and recycling collection will proceed as usual however, pick-up could be later due to icy road conditions. If crews start late and do not finish routes on Friday, customers should leave their carts out and garbage and recycling will be picked up Saturday.
• Ensure lids on all garbage and recycling carts are securely closed to prevent the trash from littering neighborhoods.
• Secure all garbage and recycling carts once Solid Waste crews complete collection in their areas.
• The J.C. Elliott Transfer Station will be open Friday, but icy conditions could cause a late start. Customers are encouraged to call the Customer Call Center Friday morning at 361-826-CITY (2489).

Public Works:

• Crews will monitor bridges and overpass locations to add rock to give surfaces traction.
• Workers are pre-staging barricades and "watch for ice" signs in conjunction with the ice plan at identified intersections and other critical locations.
• Crews will be on standby to respond to downed trees due to ice accumulation.
• Roadways including the Harbor Bridge, Crosstown Expressway, South Padre Island Drive, and the JFK Causeway are being treated by the Texas Department of Transportation with de-icing agents.

Driving Advice:

If the City receives sleet and freezing rain, residents are not encouraged to drive in those conditions. If you must drive, remember:

• Plan your route: back roads may be more dangerous than major roadways.
• Expect delays and plan accordingly.
• Drive slowly.

Police Department:

The Corpus Christi Police Department has its Winter Weather plan in place and will have officers monitoring bridges and flyovers, including the JFK Causeway and North Beach.

Fire Department:

The Corpus Christi Fire Department urges residents to be careful with space heaters:

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions on using alternate heating devices safely and take time to prepare and inspect the heating equipment before using it.
• NEVER use charcoal grills or other fuel-burning devices indoors since they produce carbon monoxide.
• Keep a close eye on children and pets whenever a space heater is used.
• Always turn heaters off when leaving home.

AEP Texas:

To report hazards or general calls: 1-877-373-4858

To report outages: 1-866-223-8508

Marina:

The City's Municipal Marina is securing boats and contacting tenants who live on the water at the marina with the latest weather information and safety protocols. A Gale Warning has been issued for the gulf and bay, including the marina area.

Water Utilities:

Precautions are underway at the water, wastewater, and gas operations to ensure utility services are not impacted due to cold weather.

Water Pipes:

With freezing conditions expected, the City of Corpus Christi Water Utilities advises residents to take immediate action to help protect their property:

• Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home with newspaper, insulation, or towels.
• Remove garden hose from outside faucets. Insulate outside faucets with a styrofoam cover, rags, or paper.
• Shut off irrigation systems.

Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels):

• Clients will receive a delivery on Thursday which will include a frozen meal for Friday.
• There will be no delivery Friday.

Stay up to date; visit www.cctexas.com/weather for more information. You also can find updates on city social media channels Facebook @citygov and Twitter @cityofcc or call the Customer Call center at 361-826-CITY (2489).

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