MERCEDES – Shelters have opened their doors across the Rio Grande Valley, Wednesday.

For some, it’s part of their daily operation. For others, it takes cold nights to offer people a warm place.

The dome-turned-shelter is located at 1202 North Vermont Avenue in Mercedes.

Mercedes Fire Chief Tommy Ureste said the dome will be open Thursday and Friday nights.

The dome serves for emergency purposes. The drop in temperature is a point of concern for first responders.

They don’t want anyone heating up their homes with makeshift heaters or other techniques that could put their family’s safety at risk.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS spoke to the Salvation Army in McAllen early Wednesday. They were expecting to see a spike in their numbers due to the colder weather.

Lt. Bernadette Correira wants people to seek shelter these next few days.

If anyone has a place to sleep, but maybe no heater at home, they’re welcome at the Salvation Army.

The same goes for the dome shelter in Mercedes.

“Don’t hesitate to come in. We encourage you to come in, even if it's a couple of days of cold weather. We would still rather you be indoors, warm, on a clean bed, with warm food in your stomach than out in the street in the cold,” said Correira.

If you plan on going to the shelter in Mercedes, you need to take your own bedding, towel, food and water. No pets are allowed at the facility.

Thursday is expected to be the coolest night this week.

According to the Mercedes fire chief, they'll be checking in people from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. If no one comes in, they'll close their doors at 10:15 p.m. If people do show up, they'll have it open till 7 a.m. And Friday night, they'll follow the same procedure.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS reached out to other shelters that will be open and accepting people these next couple of days.

You can find a listing of shelters in the Valley here.