In the wake of last week's deadly storm, parts of downtown Houston have been cordoned off as an exclusion zone for repair crews working on fixing shattered windows. According to CW39, Mayor John Whitmire announced the closures stretching from Louisiana to Travis Street and McKinney to Polk Street. Meanwhile, the municipal courts will remain shuttered on Monday, though scheduled proceedings are expected to resume come Tuesday.
With the mercury poised to swell and some public facilities closed for the start of the week, Houston has initiated several cooling centers to offer respite from the heat. CW39 reports that locations such as the Kingwood and Woodland Community Centers will operate from noon until 8 p.m., while various Multi-Service Centers across the city will open their doors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transportation to these centers can be arranged through a call to 311, per Mayor Whitmire's statement.
In response to the ongoing power outages, the City has also designated additional cooling centers and sites for water and ice distribution. The centers will open at varying hours, with most operating until 7 p.m. for those without air conditioning. Notably, these centers are set to provide relief from the heat but will not disperse water and ice, as stated by Click2Houston.
For citizens in need of water and ice, several locations have been established throughout Harris County. The distribution is part of a collaborative effort to support residents without power. These include community centers in Precincts 1 and 2, and a distribution center in Precinct 4. Additional information on available sites can be found at readyharris.org, reinforcing the city's commitment to providing for those affected by the recent storm's aftermath.
