Dangerous cold triggers Lexington plan to get people to warm shelters
With extreme cold in the forecast for Lexington, the city activated its emergency weather plan to get people to shelters to keep them warm.
The Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention’s plan expands shelter services and provides free transportation to shelters, according to the city. The plan will remain in effect through Jan. 2.
When the temperature falls below 32 degrees, the plan is activated.
The low temperature is supposed to drop to 9 degrees Tuesday night and 6 degrees Wednesday night before a small increase to 17 and 18 degrees Thursday and Friday nights, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature is expected to drop to 8 degrees Saturday night.
Emergency shelter is available for unaccompanied women and women with children at the Salvation Army on West Main Street. The Hope Center on West Loudon Avenue is open for men, and the Catholic Action Center on Industry Road accepts men and women. For children, there is Arbor Youth Services on West Third Street. The shelters operate 24 hours a day.
A day shelters for adults is available at the New Life Day Center on North Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The high temperature Tuesday in Lexington was 29 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Daily high temperatures will stay below freezing for the rest of the week in Lexington, with a forecast of 19 degrees on Wednesday, 27 on Thursday, 31 Friday and 26 Saturday, according to the weather service.
Anyone wishing to report someone who might need a ride to a shelter can call or text the Catholic Action Center’s Compassionate Caravan at 859-913-0038 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Mike Stunson: 859-231-1324, @mike_stunson
This story was originally published December 26, 2017 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Dangerous cold triggers Lexington plan to get people to warm shelters."