Localities and nonprofits across Southwest and Southside Virginia will operate warming centers this weekend to help residents who lose power or need a warm place to stay because of the winter storm.
This list will be updated as more centers are announced. If you have information to add to this roundup, please send it to news@cardinalnews.org.
Bedford County
The SJC Warming Shelter at 112 Center St., Bedford, will be open evenings/overnights from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Monday. Extended hours may be possible next week depending on power availability and volunteer staffing.
Palestine Baptist Church, 9244 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway in Huddleston, plans to open as a shelter on Monday morning, unless it needs to open earlier. Eastlake Community Church, 1201 Timberwood Lane in Moneta, is also on standby to open as a warming shelter if needed.
Residents can call 211 to access the latest warming shelter information in Bedford County.
Bristol
The following emergency shelter resources are available to those seeking refuge from the cold in Bristol:
Haven of Rest: 624 Anderson St., Bristol, Tenn.
423-968-2011, https://www.havenofrestbristol.org
Salvation Army – Bristol, Tenn.: 137 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bristol, Tenn.
423-652-7474, https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/bristol
Covington
The city of Covington has established a standby warming center that will be set up in the council chambers of City Hall, 333 W. Locust St. The center has been placed on standby and will be activated if power is lost; it can also be activated upon request by calling 540-965-6333.
Danville
The Temporary Relief and Counseling Center warming center at 625 Shelton St. in Danville is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Guests are welcome around the clock for warmth, safety and care. In addition to overnight shelter, guests may also access day center services during regular daytime hours. Phone: 434-710-6126.
The House of Hope is providing shelter from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. at 206 S. Ridge St.
According to city officials, the city is prepared to open a shelter if necessary.
Franklin County
Franklin County officials have been making plans to open temporary shelters as needed, County Administrator Kevin Tosh said Friday. “Due to the size of the county, we are currently holding off on naming exact locations for shelters until a need is recognized,” he said. “Residents can be assured that plans are in place and proactive measures have been taken to prepare shelter locations in Franklin County.”
Giles County
Beginning Monday, the Giles County Wellness Center at 140 Clendennin Road in Narrows will offer a warming center all week:
- Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Friday: 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Henry County
Locations throughout Henry County will be available as daytime warming locations on Sunday and Monday. Residents may stop by briefly to warm up or charge mobile devices. These locations are not intended for overnight accommodations.
- Axton Volunteer Fire Department: 55 Mountain Valley Road, Axton
- Bassett VFD: 3735 Fairystone Park Highway, Bassett
- Patrick Henry VFD: 3125 County Line Road, Patrick Springs
- Collinsville VFD: 205 John Redd Blvd., Collinsville
- Fieldale-Collinsville Volunteer Rescue Squad: 1827 Daniels Creek Road, Collinsville
- Horsepasture VFD: 17815 A.L. Philpott Highway, Ridgeway
- Ridgeway District Rescue Squad: 108 Magnolia St., Ridgeway
- Ridgeway VFD: 641 Main St., Ridgeway
- Dyers Store VFD: 3230 Chatham Road, Martinsville (also open all day Saturday)
Lynchburg
The Salvation Army is operating a low-barrier warming center for unsheltered individuals and families in the community at 2215 Park Ave. The center will be open 24/7 beginning Friday evening. A hot meal will be served daily at 4:30 p.m.
The city is requesting the community’s help collecting the following items for the warming center:
- New twin-size sheet sets
- New blankets or sleeping bags
- New pillows
- New thermal socks and gloves
- Hand warmers
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wipes)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Shelf-stable snacks (granola bars, crackers, ready-to-eat items)
- Instant coffee, tea or hot cocoa packets
- Bottled water or Gatorade
- Disposable cups and paper products
- Towels
These items can be dropped off at the following fire stations until 8 p.m. Friday, and before noon on Saturday:
- Station 1: 800 Clay St.
- Station 3: 4701 Fort Ave.
- Station 6: 2084 Fort Ave.
- Station 7: 2624 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg City Schools will provide meals for any students in need on Friday and Saturday. Meals will include both breakfast and lunch and will be available via walk-through or drive-through pickup.
Meals will be available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday and 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the auditorium entrance at E.C. Glass High School and the front entrance of Heritage High School.
Meals must be picked up by a parent or guardian during the scheduled pickup windows. Call School Nutrition at 434-515-5060 with questions.
For additional updates, families are encouraged to monitor official Lynchburg City Schools communication channels.
Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg is delivering double meals this week and is canceling routes for Monday and Tuesday.
All GLTC transit services will end early on Saturday, at 2:15 p.m. The last connections will leave the transfer station at 1:15 p.m. There will be no fixed route, paratransit or Flex service on Sunday. Details are available at www.gltconline.com.
Martinsville
The MHC Warming Center will be open 24 hours a day Saturday and Sunday at 603 Memorial Blvd. in Martinsville. The center is accepting donations of board games, playing cards, art supplies, puzzles, yarn or other quiet activities to help keep folks engaged and comfortable during the extended hours. The center is also seeking anyone who can provide temporary shelter for individuals with pets; call 276-207-9660 or visit the center on Facebook.
The city has two designated emergency shelters, Martinsville High School and Martinsville Middle School. City officials said Friday that the current plan is to open the shelters on a case-by-case basis. The will shelters open if the city is facing extended outages with extremely low temperatures.
Patrick County
The county will open warming centers as needed. The centers will initially open when residents report power outages or when large-scale outages are observed.
The warming centers will be located at:
- Ararat Fire Department
- CCDF Fire Department & Rescue Squad
- Jeb Stuart Rescue Squad
- Meadows of Dan Fire Department
- Patrick Henry Fire Department
- Smith River Rescue Squad
- The Rotary Building (if additional space is needed)
Should overnight accommodations become necessary, the county will transition the centers into full shelter mode. Overnight shelters will be available at:
- Jeb Stuart Rescue Squad
- Meadows of Dan Fire Department
- Smith River Rescue Squad
- The Rotary Building (if needed)
No food will be provided, but residents may bring their own food. Pets are not allowed at fire/rescue centers. Rotary will be set up for domestic pets. Alcohol, weapons and smoking are not allowed in centers.
Pittsylvania County
Warming centers are open at several fire departments in the county from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. No food will be provided at these shelters, but guests are allowed to bring their own food. Pets, alcoholic beverages, weapons and smoking are not allowed.
- Brosville Fire Department at 11912 Martinsville Highway, Danville.
- Chatham Fire Department at 35 Depot St., Chatham.
- Cool Branch Rescue at 3060 Smith Mountain Road, Penhook.
- Gretna Fire Department at 122 E. Gretna Road, Gretna.
- Laurel Grove Fire Department at 2081 Laurel Grove Road, Sutherlin.
- Renan Fire Department at 405 Straightstone Road, Gretna.
- Tunstall Fire Department at 740 Tunstall High Road, Dry Fork
Roanoke
RAM House, 824 Campbell Ave. S.W., will be open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
Rescue Mission of Roanoke, 402 Fourth St. S.E., will be open all weekend.
Additionally, the city’s community support centers will be open; check this map for locations.
Russell County
Russell County has the following locations designated as emergency shelters if needed:
- Cleveland Auxiliary Building
- Honaker Fire Department
- Belfast Fire Department
- Lebanon Fire Department
- Cleveland Fire Department
- Copper Creek Fire Department
- Castlewood Fire Department
- Dante Community Center
Tazewell County
A warming shelter is open at the Richlands Police Department for temporary respite from the cold and for device charging.
Tazewell County Emergency Management has multiple warming stations on standby and will open them as needed, the county said Friday.