Cold-weather shelter to open Friday, January 13, for anyone without heat as temperatures drop
FLAGLER COUNTY MEDIA RELEASE
Posted on: January 12, 2023 - 9:33am
January 12, 2023 – The Sheltering Tree will open a cold-weather shelter Friday and Saturday nights at the Church on the Rock not only for the homeless, but for anyone who is without heat.
The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures in the mid-30s during the overnight hours on Friday and Saturday. The criteria for opening the cold-weather shelter is based on an overnight temperature that dips below 40 degrees.
“The cold-weather shelter is a wonderful example of coordinated support in our community, bringing together local service agencies, the cities, and our county departments,” said Health and Human Services Director Joseph Hegedus. “It’s important that our residents know they have a warm option on these cold nights. The Sheltering Tree and Church on the Rock will have cots and meals at the ready. Flagler County will be providing transportation to the shelter for those who need it.”
The county will provide bus transportation along two routes, following the schedules below –
- Dollar General at Publix Town Center, 3:30 p.m.
- Near the McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100, 4 p.m.
- Dollar Tree by Carrabba’s and Walmart, 4:30 p.m.
- Palm Coast Main Branch Library, 4:45 p.m.
- Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.
- Bunnell Free Clinic, 4:30 p.m.
- First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 4:30 p.m.
“As temperatures approach freezing, serious medical conditions including hypothermia and frostbite can develop or be exacerbated,” said Hegedus. “We urge those who are unhoused or lack adequate heat at their residence to access the cold-weather shelter.”
Church on the Rock is located at 2200 N. State Street. The cold-weather shelter will open at 5:30 p.m. each evening and will close at 8 a.m. the following day.
The Sheltering Tree, 386-437-3258, is under the umbrella of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center and is a non-denominational civic organization that was created in 2011 to provide cold-weather sheltering during cold nights in Flagler County.
Weather and heat safety preparedness tips from Flagler County Emergency Management and Fire Rescue include:
- Subscribe to Alert Flagler www.FlaglerCounty.gov/AlertFlagler
- Stay weather aware throughout the weekend
- Never use the oven to heat the home
- All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
- Screen fireplaces to contain sparks
- Portable space heaters should be kept 3-feet away from anything that can burn
- Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed