Due to freezing temperatures and inclement weather in Texas, this week has been unimaginably tough, cold, and painful, but we sincerely hope that you are safe, warm, and slowly resetting in the midst of many still-present challenges.

We’ve compiled a list of how-tos and valuable resources within Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth to share and utilize as needed.

Prevention of Frozen/Burst Pipe

1. Keep your water running, especially overnight. Just a light drip from the hot/cold water will serve. ******UPDATE: CITIES ARE NOT ALLOWING YOU TO DRIP WATER FROM YOUR FAUCETS ANYMORE DUE TO LACK OF WATER. PLEASE FOLLOW LOCAL GUIDELINES ON CONSERVATION OF WATER****
2. Keep cabinets containing plumbing open (move harmful cleaners out of reach of children)
3. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
4. Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

1. If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
2. Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
3. Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or other open flame device or you will cause more damage.
4. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
5. Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

How to Deal With a Burst Pipe

1. Know where your water shut off is
2. Shut off your water at the main water valve.
3. Electricity should be cut off to the area of the home with water.
4. You need to prevent mold and mildew buildup so use mops, towels and a wet/dry vacuum to soak up the water.
5. If someone suspects the water main is broken, report the location immediately so it can be repaired as soon as possible. Signs of a broken water main are water running down the street and buckled pavement.

 

AUSTIN RESOURCES

Warming Centers

1. @littlepetalalliance is helping people get sheltered in Austin
2. Austin Stone – North Campus 1150 McNeil Rd. Round Rock, TX 78681
3. Point Community Church (Pet accommodations – must be crated) 11300 Old San Antonio Road Manchaca, TX 78652
4. Hope Chapel 1508 Ruth Ave. Austin, TX 78757
5. Friendship Creekside (Pet accommodations – must be crated) 14455 FM 1826 Austin, TX 78737
6. Hill Country Bible Church (Pet accommodations – must be crated) 12124 Ranch Road 620 N. Austin, TX 78750
7. Mosaic Church 12116 Jekel Circle Austin, TX 78727
8. University Ave Church of Christ (Pet accommodations – must be crated) 1903 University Ave. Austin, TX 78705
9. Promiseland Church 1504 E 51st Street Austin, TX 78723
10. Palmer Events Center (Central) 900 Barton Creek Road Austin, TX 78704
11. Lee Elementary School – CENTRAL 3308 Hampton Road Austin, TX 78705
12. Murchison Middle School – WEST 3700 N. Hills Drive Austin, TX 78731
13. Joslin Elementary School 4500 Menchaca Road Austin, TX 78745
14. If you can’t find a warming shelter on this list, click here to find one that is near you: https://tdem.texas.gov/warm/ 

Food

1. SPREADSHEET UPDATED DAILY FOR FOOD IN AUSTIN (check correct dates): CROWDSOURCED RESOURCES FOR ATX, AS OF 02/17/21 

What Where When (WWW) Spreadsheet

1. Don Juan Taco- 2300 E Cesar Chavez St, as supplies last
2. Vera Cruz Tacos- The Line Austin Hotel- Congress Austin Hotel
3. Vaquero Taquero- 104 E 31st St- 11AM-2PM
4. Free Meals – 607 W 3rd Street #105- 2-5PM
5. Chi’lantro (2/18/2021 from 12:30-4pm) 1201 Barbara Jordan Boulevard #1460 Austin 78723
6. Water:
   1. Batch Brewhouse, 3220 Manor Road
   2. Meanwhile Brewing Co, 3901 Promontory Point Dr→ water + electricity to charge phone
   3. Infamous Brewing (Dm @infamousbrewing for exact hours/assistance)

Mutual Aid/Donations

1. 1. @austinmutualaidhotels (USE THIS FIRST ONE, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO PULL MORE MONEY OUT AT A TIME)  and @austinmutualaid on VENMO

• DO NOT USE @austinmutualaid_ IT IS NOT A REAL ACCOUNT

1. $streetforum on CashApp for Street Forum ATX
2. @austinpetsalive on Twitter
3. @atxfreefridge on Venmo
4. https://www.gofundme.com/f/kick-the-cold-austin-mutal-aid
5. Austin Disaster Relief Network: The nonprofit is accepting monetary donations to help buy gift cards, pay for emergency housing and transportation, and supplies for people impacted by weather-related incidents
6. Austin Area Urban League: The local affiliate of the civil rights organization is accepting monetary donations to help provide emergency shelter, food, clothing, and other supplies for the unhoused population.
7. Free Lunch: The initiative has been feeding the Camp Esperanza encampment during the storm. To help their efforts, they’re accepting monetary contributions.
8. The Austin EMS Relief Fund: The Austin EMS Association is collecting monetary donations for its fund to help feed first responder/medics during the storm.

 

FORT WORTH RESOURCES

Warming Centers

1. Presbyterian Night Shelter @presbyteriannightshelter on Instagram 2400 Cypress St, Fort Worth, Texas 76102
2. Fort Worth Convention Center 1201 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
3. Worth Heights Community Center 3551 New York Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76110
4. Handley Meadowbrook Community Center 6201 Beaty St, Fort Worth, TX 76112
5. Diamond Hill Community Center 1701 NE 36th St, Fort Worth, TX 76106
6. North Tri-Ethnic Community Center 2950 Roosevelt Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76106
7. Summerglen Library 4205 Basswood Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76137
8. Southwest Community Center 6300 Welch Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76133
9. If you can’t find a warming shelter on this list, click here to find one that is near you: https://tdem.texas.gov/warm/ 

Food

• CROWDSOURCED DOCUMENT FOR DFW WINTER STORM 2021  

• Water Distribution Sites:
• Station 9, 2575 Polaris Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76137
• Station 31, 4209 Longstraw Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76137
• Station 37, 4721 Ray White Road, Keller, TX 76248
• Station 38, 13280 Park Vista Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76248
• Trinity Springs Middle School (Keller ISD), 3350 Keller Hicks Road, Fort Worth, TX 76244.

DALLAS RESOURCES

Warming Centers

• Dallas:

1. 1. 1. Kay Bailey Convention Center Dallas, 650 S. Griffin St.
   2. Addison:
      1. -Addison Athletic Club, 3900 Beltway Drive
   3. Arlington:
      1. Water Utilities South Service Center, 1100 Southwest Green Oaks Boulevard

• Carrollton:

1. 1. 1. Newman Smith High School, 2335 North Josey Lane
   2.                 Bring your own food

• Bedford/Hurst:

1. 1. 1. Central Junior High, 3191 W. Pipeline Rd., Euless
   2. Cleburne:
      1. Cleburne Conference Center, 1501 W Henderson St, Cleburne, TX 76033
   3. Coppell:
      1. The CORE, 234 Parkway Blvd.

• Coppell/Carrollton:

1. 1. -City of Knowledge, 5000 Main St Suite 228b, The Colony, TX 75056 CONTACT: 214-909-4120 for availability and requirements  (Must bring masks; there are socially distanced rooms)
2. Irving:
   1. The Salvation Army, 250 E. Grauwyler Road Irving 75061
3. Richardson:
   1. 2519 Custer Parkway (open 24 hours)
   2. First United Methodist Church, 503 N Central Expressway (Open 10am-4pm)
   3. Methodist Richardson Medical Center, 2831 E President George Bush Hwy (10am-4pm)
   4. Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Rd (10am-4pm)
   5. Richardson Police Department HQ Lobby, 200 N Greenville Ave (open 24 hours)
4. Denton:
   1. Our Daily Bread, 300 West Oak Street Denton 76021
   2.  MLK Jr. Rec Center, 1300 Wilson Street Denton 76025
   3.  North Lakes Rec Center, 2001 W Windsor Street Denton 76205

Food

1. Lucha Dallas
2. @mercychefs (Instagram) serving free meals and distributing groceries
3. North Texas Food Bank
4. Feed the People Dallas
5. Camp Rhonda
6. 106 Mt Nebo Street- starts at 12 PM first come first serve 2/18
7. Water:
   1. Southlake- Gateway Church, 700 Blessed Way- one case per household (starts 2/19)

Mutual Aid/Donations

1. @feedthepeopledallas (Venmo)
2. Lucha Dallas (Venmo: @luchadallas)
3. Feed the People Dallas (Venmo: @feedthepeopledallas, Cashapp: $feedthepeopledtx)
4. Cashapp- $SunriseDallas
5. Venmo-  Sunrise Dallas
6. North Texas Rural Resilience (Venmo: @ntrr4yall)  Zelle: 940-735-8184 (Name: Lucy Minter)
7. DFW Mutual Aid (Venmo/Cash App: dfwmutualaid)
8. Cooperation Denton ( CashApp: $cooperationdenton)
9. Dallas Harm Reduction Aid (Venmo: @DALLASHRA)
10. Dallas Stop Evictions (CashApp: $dallasstopevictions)
11. Help with Laundry- text 469-573-3513 or DM @sayitwithyourchestdtx
12. Carrollton: DM @nandita.kumar4 on insta for help with food or shelter
13. McKinney: DM @kashishbastola on Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat for help with food or shelter
14. @OurCalling (Instagram): “OurCalling is to glorify God by leading homeless people to Christ and by making disciples on the streets.”
15. Cook For the Community- 9AM to 9PM Beacon of Light 2604 Harwood St and Warren UMC 3028 S Malcolm X Blvd
16. SRA DFW (CashApp: $sradfw)
17. Cooks/Volunteers Needed- 4711 Westside Dr. – call 817-243-7457

HOUSTON RESOURCES

Warming Centers

1. 1. Gallery Furniture, 6006 N Freeway & 7227 W Grand Parkway S
   2. Lakewood Church, 3700 Southwest Freeway
   3. National Association of Christian Churches, 16605 Air Center Boulevard
   4. Copperfield Church, 8350 Hwy 6 N, Cypress
   5. The Foundry UMC, 8350 Jones Road, Cypress
   6. Recreation Center, 4141 Bailey Rd. Pearland

• Chambers County

1. 1. 1.  McLeod Park 10717 Langston Dr.

• Galveston County

1. 1. 1.  Galveston Central Church, 3308 Avenue O

• Brazoria County

1. 1. 1. Freeport Recreation Center, 803 N. Front St.

• Matagorda County

1. 1. 1.  Tidehaven High School, 144 FM 1095 El Maton

• Montgomery County

1. 1. 1. OverUnder Church, 600 S. Frazier St.
      2. Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Rd.
      3.  Church Project, 602 Pruitt Rd.
      4.  Madeley Ranch Elementary, 3500 Madeley Ranch Rd.
      5.  Wildwood UMC, 8911 FM 1488
      6. Rob Fleming Recreation Center 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands

• Walker County

1. 1. 1. – 455 SH-75 North

• If you can’t find a warming shelter on this list, click here to find one that is near you: https://tdem.texas.gov/warm/ 

Food

1. CROWDSOURCED HOUSTON BIZ OPEN DURING WINTER STORM 2021
2. Salvation Army of Harris County
3. Iglesia Cristiana Vision Divina
4. call 832-369-9390 for the emergency referral line.
5. Water:
   1. Water Tower in West University Place
   2. DM @texanjason on Twitter – 5 gallons of water
   3. Amahle Bar & Lounge- 1916 Baldwin Street
   4. GEORGETOWN- 445 E. Morrow St (12:30-5PM)

Mutual Aid/Donations

1. Crowd Source Rescue (crowdsourcerescue.com/donate)
2. Houseless Organizing Coalition (paypal.me/hochtx)
3. West Street Recovery
4. Homeless Houston
5. Mutual Aid Houston is NOT accepting donations as of right now!