Severe Weather Shelter open through Jan. 4 due to frigid temperatures, snowstorm

Bryce Buyakie, The Daily Record
·2 min read
Wooster's Salvation Army gymnasium will serve as the Severe Weather Shelter site with cots, blankets, pillows and other toiletries.
Wooster's Salvation Army gymnasium will serve as the Severe Weather Shelter site with cots, blankets, pillows and other toiletries.

WOOSTER – To anticipate the bitter cold and strong winds this holiday weekend, the Salvation Army with support from OneEighty will open the downtown warming shelter through the New Year.

The Severe Weather Shelter opened Dec. 19 and will remain open through Wednesday, Jan. 4, as temperatures are expected to be 20 degrees or less.

Shelter:Wooster’s Severe Weather Shelter open at the Salvation Army when temperatures are cold

On it's Facebook page, OneEighty urged people to "spread the word to anyone who may need a safe place to sleep and a hot meal."

Guests should arrive between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. using the Family Life Center door entrance at the Salvation Army. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

"The shelter is open to anyone needing to escape the elements," the social service wrote. "The expectation is that all guests will be respectful of themselves and others while at the shelter."

The shelter is located at 437 S. Market St., Wooster. Cots, bedding, snacks, water and showers will be available.

"There is a possibility the shelter will allow them to stay Christmas Day and New Year’s Day since all other entities will be closed those days – but only if they have enough staffing," the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency wrote on Facebook. "That has not been determined yet."

What to expect this weekend?

Bitter and strong winds of up to 55 mph will blow across Northeast Ohio this holiday weekend starting Friday, according to the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency.

Below-zero wind chills are expected Friday and Saturday night, nearing -20 degrees. Temperatures are expected to drop to between -2 and 11 degrees through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow could come in waves starting early Friday morning through Saturday night. Wind-induced drifts are likely. The total expected snowfall is uncertain.

Emergency supply kit

Because it is a holiday weekend, travel disruptions are expected, which could include breakdowns and accidents, so the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency urges travelers and commuters to pack an emergency supply kit in every vehicle.

It should essential items such as food, water, clothes and tools. Suggestions are:

  • Cell phone, charger and batteries

  • Blankets or sleeping bags

  • Flashlight with extra batteries

  • Firstaid kit

  • High-calorie, non-perishable food

  • Extra clothing to stay dry

  • Sand or cat litter for traction

  • Portable shovel

  • Windshield scraper and brush

  • Tool kit with knife

  • Battery booster cables

  • Water

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: As frigid cold hits area, Severe Weather Shelter opens in Wooster