Treasure Coast & Okeechobee Region Cold Weather Shelters
Treasure Coast, Fl (treasurecoast.com)- Here is a list of cold weathers shelters in the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee Region.
Indian River County (IRC) – The National Weather Service Melbourne has issued a cold weather advisory for Indian River County and surrounding areas. The arrival of an Arctic cold front is on tap for Friday. Temperatures are expected to plummet behind the front as the coldest air of the season overspreads the entire area from Friday evening through the Christmas weekend and Monday night.
Lows in the mid to upper 30’s are expected across the Treasure Coast region. Emergency Management Officials are reminding citizens to protect their pets and plants from frigid weather, and to check on people who might be vulnerable. Please exercise extreme caution if using a space heater, making sure the unit is placed away from furniture and low hanging drapes. The chart below shows temperature forecasts:
Saturday AM Sunday AM Monday AM
On December 23 and 24, 2022, The Salvation Army (SA) will serve as a Cold Weather Shelter for the first 40 persons who arrive. The SA is located at 2655 5th Street SW Vero Beach, FL 32962. Entry starts at 5:00 PM each night and the facility will close at 7:00 AM the following morning. There are tentative plans for the SA to open on December 25 at 5:00 PM depending on weather conditions.
Dinner will be served nightly. No transportation is offered at this time. The Red Cross and United Way are graciously supporting the SA through financial and other donations.
“The Source” will also have their 36 bed Dignity Bus activated for cold weather shelter starting at 9:00 PM each night. The Dignity Bus is located at: 1015 Commerce Avenue in Vero Beach, FL 32960.
St. Lucie County
Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Opening Dec. 23 – 26 in Fort Pierce
FORT PIERCE – In partnership with St. Lucie County and the City of Fort Pierce, In the Image of Christ will be operating an emergency cold weather shelter this weekend at the Percy Peek Gym, located at 2902 Ave. D.
The National Weather Service is estimating that temperatures across the Treasure Coast will drop to the low 30s this weekend with strong winds pushing the wind chill into the 20s. The emergency cold weather shelter at Percy Peek Gym will be open Friday, Dec. 23, Saturday, Dec. 24, Sunday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Dec. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.
The American Red Cross is also assisting this effort by providing 200 blankets, 40 cots and 200 hygiene kits to In the Image of Christ.
Residents should bring pets inside overnight during these cold evenings. St. Lucie County’s Animal Safety staff reminds residents that it is illegal to leave pets tethered outside unsupervised, regardless of the temperatures.
Additionally, plants in containers can be moved inside or placed close to the house inside porches or garages. Large containers that cannot be moved inside can be clumped together and mulch placed around the container can help protect the roots from extreme cold weather. Mulch can also be used in the landscape to reduce radiant heat loss from the soil and protect the roots of plants that are in the ground. Covering your plants can protect them from frost damage. Cloth sheets, quilts or commercial frost cloth can be used. It is important to try to have the covering touch as little foliage as possible and have the covering extend all the way to the ground to trap any radiant heat from the soil.
For more information about the emergency cold weather shelter at Percy Peek Gym, contact Pastor Hazel Hoylman at 772-359-9653.
Okeechobee County will partner with RiteLife to provide a warming center to be open during the overnight hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, December 23 through 26, 2022. Temperatures and wind chills are expected to be below freezing throughout the weekend overnights.
