Here's how to stay warm and safe in Houston area during this weekend's winter storm

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- This weekend's winter storm is on everyone's mind as government officials, utility companies, and residents prepare for the potential of freezing rain and sleet.

Many will stay in their homes as severe weather moves across southeast Texas, and those who need them will seek shelter at warming centers throughout the Houston area.

Below are some helpful tips for weathering the storm safely.

Staying safe inside your home

Officials say people should stay indoors during a winter storm. But home heating systems running for hours can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as the deadly fumes can be produced by furnaces, stoves, and heaters, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carbon monoxide can also be created when people use portable generators or run cars in their garages to stay warm or charge their phones.

Dr. Alex Harding, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said that because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, people won't necessarily be aware of it.

"The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be really insidious. They can sneak up on patients and can range from just developing a headache or maybe a little bit of nausea to all the way to losing consciousness and seizures," he said.

Dealing with hypothermia

Cold weather can be dangerous or deadly due to unsafe exposure to the elements.

The cold temperatures could catch people off guard in parts of the country that earlier might have largely experienced a mild winter.

"Really cold temperatures and winds can make temperatures feel a lot colder, and the result of that could be cold air that could eventually lead to frostbite at a much faster rate or hypothermia at a much faster rate than normal," said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.

Prolonged exposure to frigid temperatures can put people at risk of hypothermia, a condition that happens when one's body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

"Hypothermia is definitely one of the bigger concerns, especially if we do have any kind of certainty in like power grids or electricity failing," Harding said.

The danger of hypothermia is greater for someone outside, exposed to wind gusts, and not wearing appropriate clothing, or for someone whose clothing gets wet.

"If they have a safe place that's warm, where they can hunker down, where they have water and food and all those kinds of necessities ... then that's going to limit their exposure to those risks," Harding said.

But vulnerable populations like people with disabilities or homeless individuals can have problems finding a warm and safe place to stay.

Warming centers throughout the Houston area

Below is a list of warming centers throughout the Houston area, including unincorporated parts of Harris County.

Harris County Precinct One

Lincoln Park Community Center
979 Grenshaw Street, Houston, TX 77088
operating hours TBD

Harris County Precinct Two

Deputy Darren Almendarez Community Center
10918 Bentley Street, Houston, TX 77093

Felix Baldree Community Center
13828 Corpus Christi Street, Houston, TX 77015

Harris County Precinct Four

Bayland Community Center
Open 24 hours starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77074

City of Houston

Officials said these shelters open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, but the exact operating hours may vary by location.

Acres Homes Multi-service Center
6719 West Montgomery Road, 77091

Denver Harbor Multi-service Center
6402 Market Street, 77007

Fifth Ward MSC
4014 Market Street, 77077

Fonde CC
110 Sabine Street, 77007

Kashmere MSC
4802 Lockwood Drive, 77026

Magnolia MSC
7037 Capitol Street, 77011

Metropolitan MSC
1475 West Gray Street, 77019

Moody MSC
3725 Fulton Street, 77009

Northeast MSC
9720 Spaulding Street, 77016

Southwest MSC
6400 High Star Drive, 77074

Sunnyside MSC
4410 Reed Road, 77051

Third Ward MSC
3611 Ennis Street, 77004

ABC13's partners at the Houston Chronicle report that Lakewood Church will also serve as a shelter during the weekend freeze.

Fort Bend County

County officials said warming centers will open beginning Saturday and will remain operational through Monday or as long as weather conditions warrant.

*Library hours 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fulshear Branch Library
6350 GM Library Road, Fulshear, TX 77441

George Memorial Library
1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, TX, 77469

Mission Bend Branch Library
8421 Addicks Clodine Road, Houston, TX, 77083

Missouri City Branch Library
1530 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX, 77489

First Colony Branch Library
2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX, 77479

Sugar Land Branch Library
550 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX, 77478

University Branch Library
14010 University Boulevard, Sugar Land, TX, 77479

Sienna Branch Library
8411 Sienna Springs Boulevard, Missouri City, TX, 77459

*Library hours 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Mamie George Branch Library
320 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX, 77477

Albert George Branch Library
9230 Gene Street, Needville, TX, 77461

Brazoria County

The Salvation Army of Freeport
1618 N Avenue J, Freeport, TX, 77541
Open 24/7 starting Saturday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. - Tuesday, Jan. 27

Believers Sanctuary
111 East House Street, Alvin, TX, 77511
Open 24/7 starting Saturday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. - Tuesday, Jan. 27

Doris Williams Lake Jackson Civic Center
333 Highway 332 East, Lake Jackson, TX, 77566
Sunday, Jan. 25 & Monday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Angleton
130 S. Arcola St., Angleton, TX, 77515
Sunday, Jan. 25 & Monday, Jan. 26, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Montgomery County

Salvation Army- Conroe
304 Ave. E, Conroe, TX 7301

Under Over Fellowship- Conroe
600 S. Frazier Conroe, TX 77301
Opens Friday at 4 p.m. ID required for entry

St. Simon and Jude- The Woodlands
26777 Glen Loch Dr. The Woodlands, TX 77381

West Montgomery County Community Development Center- Magnolia
31555 Friendship Dr. Magnolia TX 77355

H-Town Dream Center- Splendora*
26373 East Holly Ln. Splendora, TX 77372
Pets welcome

North Montgomery County Community Center- Willis
600 Gerald St. Willis TX 77378
Pets welcome

La Porte

Fire Training Center
12201 N. C St. La Porte, TX 77571
Opens Saturday 7 p.m.

Associated Press writers Juan A. Lozano and Patrick Whittle contributed to this report.