With extremely cold weather on the horizon, the Gadsden-Etowah Emergency Management Agency will open additional warming centers next week.
Temperatures will range as low as 17 degrees between Friday and Tuesday, with winds ranging from 5 to 12 miles per hour and gusts as high as 15 miles per hour. Wind chills as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit are also expected — wind chill is the temperature that people and animals will feel outside, regardless of what the thermometer might say.
The warming center locations are:
The Salvation Army — 256-546-4673
114 N. 11th St., Gadsden
Daytime and overnight shelter, open until the extreme cold subsides.
Elliott Community Center — 256-549-4674
2829 W. Meighan Blvd., Gadsden
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 5. Accepts pets if they are in animal crates.
Carver Community Center — 256-549-4667
1030 Tuscaloosa Ave., Gadsden
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Jan. 5.
Gadsden Public Library — 256-549-4699
254 S. College St., Gadsden
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Jan. 5. Accepts pets if they are in animal crates.
Gadsden Public Library, East Gadsden — 256-549-4651
809 E. Broad St., Gadsden
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Jan. 5.
Gadsden Public Library, Alabama City — 256-549-4688
2700 W. Meighan Boulevard, Gadsden
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Jan. 5.
Etowah County residents can dial 211 First Call for Help for more county information.
Be sure to layer clothing and prepare pets and livestock for the weather. Bring plants indoors or cover them. Winterize vehicles and check them and homes for emergency supply kits. Take precautions to keep pipes and faucets from freezing over, which may cause them to burst. Be safe about using fireplaces and extra heating devices.
More information on building emergency supply kits and winter weather preparedness can be found at www.weather.gov/bmx/outreach_wwaw2017 and at the GECEMA blog at gecema.com/blogDetail.php?id_blog=73
Follow GECEMA on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, or call 256-549-4575 for information.