As temperatures continue to fall across Central Alabama, local warming centers are opening their doors to provide a safe place for people who may not have heat or stable shelter.
) - As temperatures continue to fall across Central Alabama, local warming centers are opening their doors to provide a safe place for people who may not have heat or stable shelter. At the Crump Center in Montgomery , emergency management officials say they are preparing for an increase in people seeking warmth as overnight temperatures dip into the teens and wind chills fall into the single digits.
“The warming center is a good place for people that have nowhere to go,” Gordon said.Officials with the Emergency Management Agency say cold weather can quickly become dangerous, especially for people spending extended periods outside or living in homes without heat or power. Laura Goudreau, Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Agency, says exposure to extreme cold can lead to serious injuries. “When we’re seeing temperatures in the teens and wind chills in the single digits, anyone outside during that timeframe may suffer hypothermia or other cold-weather injuries,” Goudreau said. To reduce that risk, the warming center at the Crump Center is open every night this week as long as temperatures remain below freezing.Inside, visitors can sit, warm up, and access light snacks and hot beverages. While the center is not set up as an overnight shelter with cots, officials say it provides a critical place to get out of dangerous weather.Another visitor, John Williams, says the cold has been especially hard to endure without stable housing or enough warm clothing. “I haven’t got enough layers to really be out here in this cold,” Williams said. “I’ve been cold for several days now.” Williams says while warming centers help at night, finding a safe place to stay warm during the day can still be a challenge. “You need somewhere all day to stay,” he said. “When you go into businesses, sometimes they tell you you can’t be there.”EMA officials urge residents who choose to stay home to take extra precautions:Avoid using stoves, grills, or barbecues to heat indoor spacesOfficials also recommend residents report storm or weather-related damage through the city’s self-reporting tool, available on the Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page. Non-emergency issues such as downed trees or debris can be reported by calling 3-1-1.Emergency management officials say they expect nightly attendance at the warming center to increase as temperatures continue to drop throughout the week. They stress that anyone without heat — regardless of housing status — is encouraged to use the facility.For those in the Selma area, there are two shelters for people to stay warm – the Gospel Tabernacle Church and Winston Williams Shelter. Doors will open at 10 p.m. tonight and will stay up until 10 a.m. Community members who need to warm up can come in and stay for four hour increments. They will offer free coffee, internet, and light snacks.Fallen trees and power lines cause damage, road closures across the areaCommunity members hold MLK Family and Fun Unity Day
WFSA WSFA 12 News Montgomery Warming Stations Crump Station Warming Freezing Temperatures Cold
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