North Texas prepares for upcoming winter weather

Temperatures started to drop on Sunday, a preview of what will happen at the start of the week as Freezing rain expected.

Smooth roads are a major concern for the next 72 hours, which is why the Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, said crews have been treating roads with brine, a mixture of salt and water, for the past few days.

“We have pre-treated our raised surfaces, these are the ones that are most vulnerable to icing, they are not isolated by the ground, so we will focus on them and we will continue to track and treat them,” he said. Val Lopez, Fort Worth TXDOT County Representative.

He said the best solution would be for people to stay off the road, but said that if people do have to drive, take your time, keep a good distance from other vehicles, and be careful on high ground such as bridges and overpasses.

Meanwhile, some groceries buyers have added to their regular list and decided to buy extra groceries just in case.

“Because of the winter weather that we have right now, we need to get ready, we need to have water, lots of canned food and of course toiletries,” said Cynthia Castillo, who went shopping with her family.

“Once everyone starts feeling the weather, they start running around the shops, you won’t find anything at all,” Castillo said.

Not everyone will have a place to warm up, so the City of Dallas Homeless Assistance Office has activated its “Temporary Inclement Weather Shelters” in preparation for deteriorating conditions in the coming days.

“We run from our house to our car, right, but for a person sleeping on the street, especially for those who are 50-60 years old, this can be fatal,” said Pastor Wayne Walker. General Director of the company “Our calling”non-profit organization helping the homeless.

He said they have room for 360 people, food for every night, cribs, medical services and a place for pets.

“The goal is to really help people survive, get them off the streets and give them a safe place to sleep,” he said.

“Many people left on their own, they rely on the favor of others, so the person who could bring you a coat or a blanket will also remain in his house today, so we have one place here. even ready to expand if we need to,” Walker explained.

A winter storm watch was issued for North Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth, from Monday noon to Wednesday 9 a.m.