Staff Reports
Here is a roundup of shelters open today and Thursday to help individuals who don’t have heat or do not have anywhere to stay warm.
City offers warming area
Columbus will offer Donner Center as a warming center during the extreme cold weather expected in the area through Thursday. Donner Center is located at 22nd and Sycamore streets.
The warming center opens at 6 a.m. today, continuing until 10 p.m. The warming center will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Individuals using the warming center must comply with all Donner Center rules and policies and adhere to the following guidelines:
Please bring your own reading material and other personal items you require. Amplified sound devices are prohibited.
Please supply your own snacks. A water fountain is available for public use on the premises.
Please note that there are no medical services provided at Donner Center.
For more information, contact Donner Center at 812-376-2680.
Report power outages
Duke Energy is providing customers with a toll-free number to report power outages during the arctic cold predicted for tonight through Thursday.
Customers should call 800-343-3525 to report outages. Duke Energy released a statement that the company has generation resources to meet customer energy needs, but sometimes higher-than-normal power demand can lead to power outages because of overworked equipment that fails. The company said it is prepared to respond if that occurs and are monitoring system conditions closely while updating the status of the electric grid.
The company also released a statement on preventing consecutive power outages during the cold weather:
“If power outages would occur, immediately after power is restored to an area or neighborhood, the local electric grid experiences extremely heavy demand for power, which can overload a circuit. When this happens, a fuse or circuit breaker automatically ‘trips’ at the local Duke Energy substation, causing a new power outage.
“This circumstance, which is called cold load pickup, happens by design and is meant to prevent damage to our equipment — similar to how fuses and circuit breakers work in homes and businesses.
“Customers experiencing an outage can help prevent repeated interruptions caused by cold load pickup by switching off as many lights, electronics and appliances — including heating systems — as possible. Doing so will reduce the likelihood of circuit overloads when power is restored, especially during cold weather conditions.”
Shelter for homeless
Anyone without shelter in Columbus or Bartholomew County should go to the Community Engagement Center at 1951 McKinley Ave. for daytime shelter, or Brighter Days Housing, 421 S. Mapleton St., for overnight shelter.
A bus will be provided to shuttle guests from each location so there is a seamless transition to keep individuals safe.
Hope sets up shelters
Two churches in Hope, the Methodist and Baptist, have agreed to serve as warming shelters on Wednesday and Thursday. If the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. cancels school, the school complex may also be used as a shelter.
Jennings County shelter
The Country Squire Lakes Clubhouse will be the shelter for Jennings County residents through Thursday. Pets are not allowed unless they are a service animal. Anyone needing a ride to the shelter should call 812-346-7841.
