By Andy Ostmeyer
aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com
With Southwest Missouri experiencing some of its coldest temperatures and wind chills in years, the Red Cross has opened additional warming centers for area residents.
On Friday, warming centers opened at City Hall and the fire station in Southwest City, at City Hall and the fire station in Pineville, and at the Anderson Fire Station, according to Janice Travis, emergency services manager for the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Hours of operation at those warming centers are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are asked to call 417-223-4368 before using either of the Pineville locations.
Travis said anyone needing overnight accommodations at those sites should contact their local emergency services officials or the Joplin office of the Red Cross at 417-624-4411.
The Red Cross previously opened an emergency overnight shelter in Joplin at 410 S. Jackson Ave.
She said 10 people stayed there the first night and 18 the second night.
“We have been pretty busy, especially at night,” said Cheryl Dandridge, financial development manager for the Red Cross office in Joplin. “We are essentially an overflow for the Salvation Army and Souls Harbor.
“We are going to be open until Monday morning, day and night,” she added.
Red Cross officials contemplated opening an overnight shelter in Neosho after a power outage in that area left 2,500 people without electricity, but the power was quickly restored.
Amy Bass said the outage happened because of a breaker problem at a substation around 10:30 a.m., but that service was restored to all affected customers within a couple of hours.
“We will be watching very vigilantly to respond to the calls as quickly as we can,” Bass said. “We know the hardships cold weather brings.”
Joplin Health and Rehabilitation Center also plans to keep its warming center at 2218 W. 32nd St. open through the weekend, said Randy Alsup, administrator. It is open 24 hours a day.
No beds are available but there is a place for people to sit, watch television and get hot beverages and snacks, he said. Alsup said one person used the shelter early Friday morning.
People seeking use of the Health and Rehabilitation Center should call in advance, if possible. The number is 417-623-5264.
More sites
Other shelters offering warmth during the cold spell are Souls Harbor, providing hot meals and beds daily at 915 S. Main St., and the Salvation Army at 320 E. Eighth St., open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a hot lunch served at 1:30 p.m.
‘Deep freeze’
Steve Lindenberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast office in Springfield, on Friday said a warming trend will start Sunday after a low Saturday night near minus 3 degrees.
“We’ll stay in the deep freeze until Sunday afternoon, when it will warm to the freezing mark — about 32 to 33 degrees,” he said. “The low Sunday night will be in the 20s.’’
The warm-up will continue Monday and Tuesday. Highs into the mid- to upper 30s are forecast. Highs in the low to mid-40s are expected by the middle to latter part of the week.
Lindenberg said no precipitation is expected.
