Flagler to open cold-weather shelter Tuesday night as cold front drops temps into 30s

Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
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With parts of the county expected to see temperatures below 40 degrees on Tuesday, Flagler County announced it will open its cold-weather shelter Tuesday night.

The Sheltering Tree, located at 2200 N. State St. at the Rock Transformation Center, will open at 5 p.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following day, according to county officials.

“We keep getting these cold snaps — unusual for March — and our message remains the same. We urge anyone without adequate housing or adequate heat to come to the cold-weather shelter,” said Health and Human Services Director Joseph Hegedus in a press release. “The Sheltering Tree and the Rock Transformation Center will provide cots and meals. It’s March in Florida, but don’t let that prevent you from coming to the cold weather shelter.”

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The National Weather Service forecast calls for lows of 38 degrees in parts of the county Tuesday night.

That is due to a cold front moving through the area on Monday, bringing a risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms, as well as gusty winds of up to 60 mph.

Similar conditions are expected for Volusia County, with lows around 40 degrees on Tuesday night.

Volusia officials have not yet announced plans to open cold-weather shelters.

Transportation to the Sheltering Tree

The county will provide bus transportation along two routes:

East side

  • Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.

  • McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.

  • Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.

  • Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.

West side

  • Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.

  • Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Blvd., 4:30 p.m.

  • First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine St., 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity).

The shelter is meant “not only for the homeless, but for anyone who is without heat.”

The Sheltering Tree is a non-denominational civic organization created to provide cold-weather sheltering in Flagler County. It can be reached at 386-437-3258.

For residents who decide to keep warm at their homes, Flagler County officials recommend the following precautions:

  • 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.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler to open cold-weather shelters; front to drop temps into 30s