The Salvation Army of North Texas has activated 13 cooling and hydration stations across five counties as the regional heat index pushes into triple digits for the first time this summer.
The stations, located in Dallas, Denton, Collin, Ellis, and Tarrant counties, offer shelter, water, and food to residents at risk during extreme temperatures. The organization is also dispatching emergency mobile feeding units, called canteens, to bring water and supplies directly to unsheltered residents.
The North Texas Area Command activates its heat relief protocol when forecasts call for temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, typically over multiple days, or when the heat index is projected to top 105 degrees for more than two consecutive days.
“We are dedicated to providing our most vulnerable neighbors with the resources they need to have relief from the extreme heat,” said Major Rob Webb, Area Commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas, Fox 4 KDFW reported. “Our reach expands beyond the initial heat relief services as we open our doors to reach as many people as we can and offer programs and services for these individuals to have long-term success year-round.”
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, exceeding annual fatalities from tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined. Unsheltered individuals, seniors, children, and people with chronic medical conditions face elevated risk because of limited access to air conditioning and medical care.
The activation follows a spring that broke local temperature records dating back to the 1960s. The Weather Channel is forecasting a hotter-than-normal summer for Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth area logged seven days at or above 100 degrees in 2025.
The organization is also providing financial assistance to low-income families and individuals struggling with rising summer utility bills.
Cooling station locations
In Dallas County, sites include the Garland Corps Community Center, Irving Corps Community Center, Oak Cliff Corps Community Center, Pleasant Grove Corps Community Center, and the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center, which serves as a hydration station.
Tarrant County locations are the Arlington Corps Community Center, Northside Corps Community Center, and the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center hydration station.
Collin County sites are the Plano Corps Community Center and McKinney Corps Community Center. Denton County locations include the Denton Corps Community Center and Lewisville Corps Community Center. In Ellis County, the Waxahachie Corps Community Center is operating heat relief services.
Beyond the seasonal response, The Salvation Army runs 21 centers across six North Texas counties, sheltering about 1,300 people each night and feeding 10,000 people weekly through its food pantries.
Operating hours vary by location, and the organization is directing residents to its website for full schedules and donation information.
Provided by Dallas Express
