Emergency crews are ready for a difficult day on roads across north Texas as the region deals with snow and freezing temperatures. The Texas Department of Public safety is urging people who have to be out on the roads today to use extreme caution.
"Instead of just looking one car length ahead - look two, three or four car lengths ahead," said Texas DPS Lt. Lonny Haschel. "Maybe you can have an opportunity to see that there's something going on...or if there's ice in the roadway."
Highway crews have been working for the past several days to pre-treat roads ahead of today's winter blast.
"The goal here is to ensure if we experience icy conditions, that ice would not stick to the roads," said Patrick Clarke with the Texas Department of Transportation. "While we do our part, we always want to appeal to drivers to do their part. If you don't have to be out there, please stay home."
The North Texas Tollway Authority has also had crews working around the clock to apply brine to prevent the formation of ice. "We have 37 snow plows. We're ready to go, we're prepared for it - fully loaded as far as the de-icing materials. We'll do everything we can, we will use snowplows to clear the road," said Michael Rey with the NTTA. "But first and foremost, make absolutely sure there's a reason to travel in these conditions."
In Tarrant County, MedStar crews are prioritizing calls that are outside, since the bitter cold can create additional hazards for patients. They're urging people to stay indoors if at all possible and to monitor conditions if they have to be outside.
"What we see are the people who are working outside or doing things outside that the might not be prepared for from a clothing perspective, and people really begin to have signs of hypothermia," said Matt Zavadsky with MedStar. "If you do start to shiver, it's time to go in. If you stop shivering and you're outside, that's a very bad sign. If you or someone you're with actually stop shivering when they're outside - call 9-1-1. That person is in hypothermia."
The City of Dallas has opened the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as an emergency shelter for people who are homeless or anyone who needs a warm place to stay. The Convention Center will remain open as long as the temperature is below freezing. People staying there will receive three meals a day and face masks. The city of Dallas is working with the non-profit group Our Calling to handle the intake at the shelter.
The combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the freezing temperatures are especially difficult for people who are homeless, said Pastor Wayne Walker with Our Calling. "It's a horrible recipe for disaster," he said. "We have more people experiencing homelessness now than ever...and very limited space in shelters."