North Texans continue preparations for winter weather expected Sunday

North Texans are filling their shopping carts with firewood and groceries as severe winter weather is around the corner.

"A lot of take-home pizza and bread for grilled cheese," Brittany Moreland said.

Shoppers are experiencing lengthy lines and delays with pick-up service, and some locations FOX 4 checked have no options for delivery.

"[The grocery store] was beyond busier than it’s ever been we feel like," Moreland added.

Winter storms will likely keep students busy at home, instead of inside school buildings to start out next week.

"I will catch up on my homework," high school junior Ella Stecklein said. "I don’t really want to do that but I don’t want to be falling behind at the same time so, necessity."

Dallas ISD doesn’t plan to cancel classes, rather, shift all students to learn virtually once severe weather hits, unless there are power outages.

"This cold weather we’re seeing is going to be record-breaking lows," said Kerri Dunn, with ONCOR. "Impacts we haven’t experienced across Texas in decades."

And ONCOR is already seeing several thousand outages due to weather in North Texas, but the significant numbers are coming from Round Rock and Central Texas, with roughly 20,000 recent outages that have mostly been resolved, but crews here are on standby.

"When we’re seeing the freezing rain, when we’re seeing snow, as long as it’s safe for them to be out there, they’re going to be out there performing that work, day or night," Dunn said.

The city of Dallas assembled 200 cots for homeless people to sleep on, with room for 200 more, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Local organizers with Our Calling are helping bring homeless people inside. It’s also placed more than 200 of them into hotels and shelters.

Most are grateful.

"Why? Because I freaking would’ve been in a tent and I wouldn’t know what was going to happen tomorrow or the next day or the next day or the next day. You know what I mean?" one man said.

Still, some will not seek shelter for personal reasons.

"I’m like a paranoid schizophrenic, so I’m kind of spooked by the shelters because I don’t want to catch COVID-19," said Robert.

Winter weather is making tough times even more difficult.

"It’s just hard. I can’t make it. I’m trying. I get a little odd job here and there. That’s about it," Robert added. "So right now, I’m kind of stuck without money."

Denton will open a 24-hour warming station Sunday.

The Denton Civic Center will open at noon Sunday for anyone who needs shelter from the cold.

That could be stranded drivers, people without power, or those experiencing homelessness.

The decision to open comes after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration.

Water, food, and cots will be available.

Covid-19 protocols will be in place.

And the cold temperatures have only just begun.

"As of this morning we’re starting to see that ice impact slightly, but mostly, we’re seeing that on the roads," Dunn said.

It’s not what people are used to seeing.

"I don’t really know if Texas snow days were really snow days anyways, because it’s Texas," said Stecklein.

But if grocery stores are any indication, people are getting ready to ride out the storm.