It Truly Takes a Village. Emergency Warming Shelters Spring Up

For anyone who has to travel this winter week, our thoughts for safety are with you. 

Currently, there is a winter weather advisory in place across Jackson, Klamath, Douglas, Lake, Modoc and Coos counties and a winter storm warning in place across much of Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, Lassen and Shasta counties. According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest snow will fall in the Coastal Mountains, western Siskiyou County, the Mount Shasta region and the Cascades and Siskiyou mountains.

Fortunately, for those who are struggling or dispossessed or find themselves without power, many towns and counties have sprung into action and extended the availability of their emergency shelters.

Ashland’s emergency warming shelter opened Wednesday and remained open until Thursday morning, from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. 

The warming shelter in Grants Pass will also was open until Thursday morning, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Medford opened its severe event shelter Friday night at sundown, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

Siskiyou County operates warming centers in Yreka, Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta and Montague. 

These initiatives show a quick response to a looming crisis, and offer assistance to those desperately in need. When people are cold, and alone, they can easily freeze to death, especially if they are homeless and not thinking clearly. These shelters also will prevent people lighting fires to keep warm, which can still easily spread despite the snow, especially with the gusts of wind we are seeing now that can carry embers and spread in a minute.

Be safe, be healthy, and here’s to community spirit!