The United Way of Greater Kansas City is making a list of so-called "warming centers" available to those looking for respite from this week’s bitterly cold weather.
A total of 124 sites are on a master list, and there is a site in almost every community in the metro.
The National Weather Service is predicting day-time, single digit temperatures for much of this week, with a wind chill advisory through Thursday.
Gary Thurman with the United Way says libraries , senior centers and community centers will open their doors to people experiencing the cold – people whose electricity may be shut off, are homeless or are living in abandoned homes.
Thurman says the most efficient way to find a warming center is to call 211, a free and confidential referral service sponsored by the United Way.
“That way they can find a location of the warming center nearest to them,” Thurman says.
The centers are open during regular business hours and have been notified they may see more people than usual through their doors.
The centers are not available for people to stay overnight. However, many of the homeless shelters in the area will accommodate anyone without a place to sleep by adding extra beds and sleeping bags.
The University of Kansas hospital says it has not seen any cases of hypothermia so far this winter but the emergency room has seen two cases of frostbite.
