For Kansas City residents who find themselves caught in the cold, warming centers are now open throughout the metro area.
Warming centers are short-term emergency shelters, often located in public facilities, which provide safety and heat in dangerous weather conditions.
They are open to everyone, but they are a particularly valuable resource for homeless citizens, who might otherwise be left without any reliable source of either heat or shelter to help them survive the extreme cold.
People stuck outside in severe cold weather can develop permanently damaging and even life-threatening ailments like frostbite and hypothermia; these risks are especially prominent for children, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
Warming centers in the metro area include public libraries, senior centers, Salvation Army locations and every YMCA branch in the city. Most are only accessible during that location's usual business hours, but some allow unsheltered individuals to stay overnight.
"Our purpose is to serve the community," said Paula Oxler, a spokesperson for the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. "If someone is truly in need of a warm place to be, we won't turn them away."
You can view a searchable map of all Missouri warming centers (and some in Kansas) here.
If you see someone on the street who may be suffering from frostbite or hypothermia, the Department of Health and Senior Services recommends that you move them to a warm, safe place and call 911 for immediate medical assistance.
