Madison, Marion, Monroe counties open warming centers, overnight shelters

(WISH) — Cold temperatures can be deadly.

According to forecast from Storm Track 8 meteorologists, temperatures across the area are predicted to drastically decline. Some areas will see high temperatures in the teens in coming days, and steady bouts of rain turning to snow. The weather will make travel very difficult, but imagine having to live or sleep outside.

Marion County, Indianapolis

From Aliya Wishner, communications and policy director for the Office of the Mayor, here is information on warming centers in Indianapolis and Marion County.

“Indy Parks Family Center facilities will be open as warming centers beginning Friday, January 12. Currently, facilities are not scheduled to be open 24 hours, but the department will continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the event.”

• Sunday Extended Hours
  • Broad Ripple Park 10am – 6pm
  • Brookside Park 10am –6pm
  • Municipal Gardens 2pm – 8pm
• Monday Extended City Holiday Hours
  • Stanley Strader Park 10am – 8pm
  • Broad Ripple Park 10am – 6pm
  • Garfield Park 10am – 6pm
  • Riverside Park 10am – 6pm
  • Thatcher Park 10am – 6pm
  • Windsor Park 10am – 6pm

“A full list of locations and hours is available here. This site will be updated with any changes.”

Madison County

Kim Rogers-Hatfield, director of community resources for the United Way serving Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Madison and Randolph counties, at noon Friday shared with the Anderson mayor’s office a list of Madison County warming centers.

• Anderson Public Library: 111 E. 12th St. | 1-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; and 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Salvation Army: 1615 Meridian St., Anderson | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.
• Anderson First United Methodist: 1215 Jackson St., Anderson | 8 p.m.-8 a.m. Sunday and Monday. Seating only. Enter through Door 2 from parking area.
• The Christian Center: 625 Main St., Anderson | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
• Ascension St. Vincent Mercy Hospital: 1331 S. A St., Elwood | Lobby open 24 hours.
• Harmony House Mission: 1817 S. A St., Elwood | Call 765-623-5992 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for warming center information.
• Lapel Branch Library: 610 Main St., Lapel | noon-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
• Pendleton Community Library: 595 E. Water St., Pendleton | 1-5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Updates will be posted on the Facebook page of the Madison County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency.

Monroe County

With the temperatures set to drop to dangerously cold levels, selected Monroe County fire stations will be opening their doors for temporary relief. Justin L. Baker, the county’s deputy director of the Emergency Management Agency, sent out a flyer Tuesday with details.

A warming center — also called a heat bank or a warm bank — is a short-term emergency shelter that operates when temperatures or a combination of precipitation, wind chill, wind and temperature become dangerously inclement. The flyer says the stations are for people who do not have heat. They can come in for a warmup and continue on their way. Food, showers, and areas for sleep will not be available.

The warming centers will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 13-20 at these locations in Monroe County:

• Bloomington Fire Station 1 (Headquarters), 226 College Ave., Bloomington.
• Bloomington Fire Station 2, 209 S. Fairfield Drive, Bloomington.
• Ellettsville Fire Department Headquarters, 5080 W. State Road 46, Ellettsville.
• Monroe Fire Protection District-Perry, 3953 S. Kennedy Drive, Bloomington.
• Monroe Fire Protection District-Clear Creek, 9094 S. Strain Ridge Road, Bloomington.
• Monroe Fire Protection District-Indiana Creek, 8019 S. Rockport Road, Bloomington.
• Monroe Fire Protection District-Bloomington, 5081 N. Old State Road 37, Bloomington.
• Monroe Fire Protection District-Van Buren, 2130 S. Kirby Road, Bloomington.

Related coverage

• Download the WISH-TV weather app
• Latest weather from Storm Track 8
• Insurer: Indiana ranked 15th among states for claims involving frozen pipes
• How to prevent pipes from freezing
• How to protect your home during extreme cold weather
• Animal Care Services set to enforce city law to protect pets during arctic blast
• AES Indiana shares cold weather safety tips in preparation for arctic blast