The reason comes down to Houston’s guidelines, which are among the most stringent of Texas’ metropolitan areas, according to a review by the Houston Chronicle.
Houston opens its warming centers when the weather hits 24 degrees for two hours or more, or when there’s 15-degree windchill for two hours or more, a spokesperson for the city’s Office of Emergency Management said.
Meanwhile, most of the state’s major cities open their shelters at a threshold that’s several degrees warmer, when temperatures drop to around freezing.
They probably knew a freeze was coming though, yeah? That’s the part, it shouldn’t be that strict and there should be more foresight.
Agreed, and if the freeze isn’t here yet, but will be at 11 PM, get those shelters open now!