Parish Warming Shelter Open Thru Saturday

Parish Warming Shelter Open Thru Saturday

With freezing temperatures expected to linger from the low

thirties to twenties here on the Northshore through the end

of the week, the St. Tammany Parish Office of Homeland

Security and Emergency Preparedness in conjunction with the

New Orleans Mission, will extend the operations of the

warming shelter through Saturday, January 6, 2018 for those

in need. The shelter is currently open in the Giving Hope

Retreat Center of the New Orleans Mission located at 31294

Highway 190 in Lacombe. Citizens should bring bedding,

comfort items, prescription medication, and any personal

hygiene items. Citizens are reminded that alcohol and

firearms are not allowed. The Northshore Hotline of the

Giving Hope Retreat Center is 985-218-9485.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

reminds residents to use care when using portable natural

gas, propane or butane heaters for warmth in areas of poor

ventilation, as they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

When using any portable heater beware of flammable

surroundings. Severe cold weather protocols are also in

place, and employees are placed on notice for activation if

the weather dictates.

The Department of Health and Human Services is urging

residents with elderly individuals in their families to

make certain they have a safe and effective way to heat

their residences. If residents know of at-risk families or

neighbors that could fall victim to severe cold weather,

please check on them during the evening and morning hours

to confirm their safety.

In addition, Tammany Utilities advises that in the event

of a Hard Freeze Warning, all residents should take the

necessary precautions, like wrapping their pipes, to

prevent pipes from freezing and potentially bursting. The

Department of Animal Services warns pet and livestock

owners to also take special precautions to safeguard the

well-being of animals in their care, including bringing

pets indoors and preventing water sources from freezing

over for livestock.

To stay abreast of the weather forecast, please keep up

with the National Weather Service at weather.gov