In Texas, heat can make you pass out

Cities across Texas have opened cooling stations in libraries and other public buildings, many of which have served as shelters for homeless residents. Aid organizations have also accelerated their services. In San Antonio, Pete Barrera, outreach coordinator for Haven for Hope, which works with the homeless, drove through the streets of downtown on Saturday in a pickup truck loaded with everything from cold water and snacks to food and clothing.

“People are hungry,” he said from his mobile phone as he went around. They’re people and they need you. If I can help them, I will help them.”

Texans generally seem to adhere to agency advice to drink plenty of water, limit outdoor activities, work early or late in the day, and wear plenty of sunscreen. State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, who arrived at his home in San Antonio last week, reported getting up early and staying hydrated, but said he was concerned about the impact on tourism at San Antonio attractions such as the Alamo and the River Walk in the centre.

“It’s 100 degrees in the shade,” the Democratic legislator said.

Law enforcement officers can take on their own additional comfort challenges. Sergeant Edward Mora of the Hutto Police Department wore protective gear weighing more than 20 pounds as he drove through the community in his patrol SUV, awaiting normal police calls and alert for signs of heat-related problems. “You just look at how people are doing,” he said.

In Austin’s row of nightclubs on Sixth Street in downtown, the temperature was 99 degrees at 7:45 on Saturday night, but foot traffic was nonetheless quite brisk, and compared to the daytime highs, some shoppers considered the latest reading a welcome relief.

Many wore shorts and T-shirts, and several said they followed officials’ advice to stay hydrated, albeit perhaps with a little modification. When Angelica Nunez, a real estate agent in Austin, entered a nightclub and restaurant with her husband, Joseph Nunez, she said they “drank a lot of water.” She added, “And beer, too.”

Anna Betts contributed reporting.