How Fort Worth is preparing for the coming winter storm

This weekend’s winter storm has the potential to be a long, frigid and disruptive weather event. The City of Fort Worth and partners have been preparing for months to ensure the safety and welfare of all residents and guests.

City leaders conducted a news conference on Thursday afternoon to brief residents about the numerous measures that have been put in place ahead of the storm.

“The most important thing to know is that we are prepared,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. “We’ve had the best and the brightest working together for the last week to be prepared for this storm. And Fort Worth is ready.”

View the entire news conference.

Streets

The Street Operations team, a part of the Transportation & Public Works Department, is responsible for coordinating winter response for approximately 8,100 lane miles of city roadways and more than 240 bridges. Brining operations began earlier this week, and the City will first provide sanding to bridges and hospital entrance locations before servicing critical hills, followed by intersections and major arterials.

Public safety

  • FWPD is encouraging essential travel only. Don’t get out on the roadways unless absolutely necessary. If you have to get out on the roadways, make sure your vehicle has fuel in advance, working lights and proper tire pressure. 
  • If you are involved in a non-injury crash, move your vehicle off of the main roadway if possible.
  • To prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning have a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector outside each sleeping area in your home, do not leave your car running in the garage, don’t use a gas oven for heating your home, and do not use your furnace, water heater or other gas or coal-burning appliance unless it has recently been serviced.
  • Call 911 for any emergencies. For any minor issues, use the non-emergency line at 817-392-4222.

Emergency overnight overflow shelter

For individuals experiencing homelessness, the City manages an emergency overnight overflow sheltering program when temperatures reach certain thresholds and regular emergency shelters are at capacity.

To access overnight shelter:

Individuals should first go to one of the regular emergency shelters:

  • Union Gospel Mission, 1321 E. Lancaster Ave.
  • Presbyterian Night Shelter, 2400 Cypress St.

Families should go to:

  • The Salvation Army Mabee Center, 1855 E. Lancaster Ave.

If individuals arrive at regular emergency shelters and beds are full, they will be relocated to available overflow beds at one of the available additional emergency shelter locations.

If a resident sees someone they believe to be in crisis, they should call 9-1-1.

Animal care

  • All Fort Worth Animal Care & Control shelter locations will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, including PetSmart EAC locations, and will remain closed through Sunday.

For assistance with outdoor pets, please contact FWACCINTAKES@fortworthtexas.gov.

Parks and recreation

All Fort Worth community centers will close at 6 p.m. on Friday and will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. Handley Meadowbrook Community Center and Como Community Center will be open for early voting only during this time.

Fort Worth Park & Recreation remains in close communication with the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and is prepared to open community centers as emergency crisis shelters in response to incidents such as apartment fires or widespread power outages. The department continues to monitor weather conditions closely and will adjust operations as needed to ensure public safety.

Environmental services/solid waste

No changes to residential collection route are scheduled at this time. Based on impacts, changes to collection schedule for the week of Jan. 26 may be considered for one or more days. Drop-Off Stations and the Environmental Collection Center may close on Saturday. Please use extreme caution when moving garbage and recycling carts or solid waste materials.

Check the City website for the latest updates on closures and service interruptions.

Read what Dallas and Burleson will be doing to keep residents safe and warm. The FWISD altered its weekend schedule to keep parents and students out of the cold this weekend.