As the winter storm looms, agencies and government departments are sharing advice and information on local resources — including shelter for those seeking refuge from inclement weather.

“The main thing for the general public is: stay home — if you don’t have to get out, don’t,” Warren County Emergency Management Coordinator Ronnie Pearson advised if the storm happens — echoing the main sentiment among county leaders.

“Travel is going to be treacherous.”

For those without shelter, local government and aid agencies across southcentral Kentucky are largely disseminating warming center information on social media, especially official Facebook pages and other social media. In Warren County, for example, departments like Emergency Management and the Sheriff’s Office use the platform, filtering news and using their local pulse to share the most up-to-date information.

Some counties, such as Warren, also share updates through a mass notification application called Alert Sense. Pearson added that weather radios, battery-operated televisions and other alternative devices can provide information.

Warren County warming centers, pet shelter

When temperatures stay 35 degrees or below, the Salvation Army Bowling Green, at 400 W Main Ave., activates what it calls “white flag” — where it opens its doors to the public around the clock.

“We just want to keep people safe and alive,” Salvation Army Captain Monica Horton added. “We’re always too full, but we’re not going to say no to somebody because there’s no place else for them to go.”

Pets are not allowed at the Salvation Army. Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society told the Daily News they’re helping people with unhoused pets until the cold snap ends; staff plan to be there until at least 2 p.m. over the weekend; the afterhours number is 270-202-9136.

At the LifeNav center across the street, the nonprofit Room in the Inn opens up registration 5-5:30 p.m. for an overnight stay at an area church with dinner and breakfast, said Janet Yaeger, the nonprofit’s assistant board chair. About 15 area churches provide transportation from the LifeNav center and have various capacities, she said.

Spots are decided with a lottery system, but the anticipated freezing temperatures would mean that Salvation Army will be open through its white flag program to those who don’t get a spot through Room in the Inn.

Warming centers are opening throughout the day, according to a flyer by numerous nonprofits:

• On Monday, The Capitol, at 416 E Main Ave., will function as a warming center 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Tuesday, First Christian Church, at 1106 State St., will become a warming center 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Tuesday through Thursday, the LifeSkills Wellness Connection center, at 428 Center St., will be a warming center 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The county has added that a warming center at Sugar Maple Square may open in response to the winter storm, though it wasn’t confirmed as of Thursday; updates on this and other potential warming centers will be available through county social media pages, county leaders said.

The Little Free Shuttle is providing transportation to shelter, accessible at 270-781-4882, ext. 904. The Sheriff’s Office is also available to transport people to warming centers, via 270-842-1633, though Hightower added that it could take additional time to pick people up if other priorities arise.

The library is another indoors option for people during the day so long as it remains open, but there is a possibility it and The Capitol could close if it’s too dangerous for staff to travel to the sites.

The BG Neighbors Aid Network is functioning as an alternative, general hotline at 615-581-7106 if people are stuck or need food or other weather-related assistance and connections to partner organizations, the nonprofit’s co-founder Emily Witthuhn said.

Other southcentral counties:

Various state parks will offer warming centers, including at Barren River Lake State Resort Park Lodge in Lucas.

A list is available here, and Kentucky Emergency Management is at 1-800-255-2587.

In Glasgow, the nonprofit Bridge Kentucky, at 1411 North Race Street Suite E, is opening a warming room 24 hours a day until the weather forecast improves, according to the organization’s Facebook. Also in Glasgow, the county YMCA, at 1 YMCA Way, stated on Facebook that it’s a certified Red Cross shelter, open to people needing shelter from the cold during normal business hours. Adults must have valid identification.

Registered sex offenders are not permitted at either of the above sites.

In Horse Cave, The Way Church, at 107 E Main St., on Wednesday opened a warming room 24/7 while the temperatures are dangerous, it stated on Facebook.

Logan County Emergency Management posted a list of locations with personnel on site providing temporary housing/warming centers that’s continually being updated, accessible through Facebook. The department stated that contact should be made with Logan Central Dispatch, at 270-726-4911, if resources are needed.

As of Friday morning, it listed the Auburn City Fire Department at 402 East Main St., the Lewisburg Fire Department at 402 East Green St. and the Adairville Fire Department at 11070 Nashville Road. In Russellville on Friday morning, the locations listed were Logan County Search and Rescue at 101 Thurston Drive, Russellville Rural Fire Department at 101 Fischer Drive and Agape Center at 501 Johnson Street.

The Scottsville Police Department posted that there are warming centers at Victory Hill Dream Center, the Rescue Squad building on Maxwell Dr., Scottsville Fire Station # 2 on New Gallatin Road, and “all county fire departments IF needed.”

The list is not comprehensive. The most up-to-date information would come from calls to local agencies and updates to social media channels.

Avoiding travel

First, winter storm precipitation makes travel hazardous. Second, it’s predicted that such a storm is followed by temperatures that’ll dip into the single digits early next week. And, if frozen rain occurs, it can break power lines once it freezes, or weigh down branches and make them fall onto the lines, and cause outages.

During a winter storm, preventing accidents is doubly important — as each accident slows down emergency services already anticipated to be delayed due to poor travel conditions, county leaders said.

“When you go out and do unnecessary things, and then something happens to you, our sheriff’s department, our fire departments, our everything have to then respond and keep away from what could be a tragedy or a serious emergency,” county Judge-Executive Doug Gorman added.

In the City of Bowling Green, leadership, like the county’s, advised avoiding unnecessary travel during freezing conditions and peak precipitation.

For those who must travel

“Plan ahead,” Bowling Green Police Department Public Information Officer Ronnie Ward stated. “We know everyone cannot stay home. Some folks will need to go to work or travel.

“Fill your vehicle, keep warm clothes/blankets in your car, have your phone charger and bring along some extra water and protein bars. Know your driving ability, leave extra room between you and the vehicle in front of you.”

The City stated that motorists should slow down and avoid on-street parking when snow or ice is forecasted. The City and Warren County also advised monitoring local weather forecasts and alerts.

Once the winter system moves in, we will be ready to respond and begin plowing and salting roads. It is vital for people to exercise patience as we work on a prioritized road system.

Motorists should give snow and ice vehicles plenty of space, as crowding them makes it harder for crews to make roads safer, added Wes Watt, public information officer for the regional Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3.

He stated that it’s vital for people to exercise patience as crews work on its prioritized road system. KYTC-D3’s priority route list is here, and to check snow and ice statuses and road conditions, updates are available here.

Bowling Green Public Works explains its priority snow and ice removal routes here, and the map is here.

City residents can contact Bowling Green Public Works for snow and ice removal at 270-393-3363.

Home safety, generator danger

The City of Bowling Green advised that residents ensure they have emergency supplies, including water, food, medications and flashlights.

Hightower advised that in power outages, people only use heating sources that are approved for indoor usage — nothing that puts out noxious fumes, such as a generator. Pearson stressed that it’s important to ensure generators aren’t pouring out noxious fumes that get into the home, and to use a carbon monoxide detector in case gases get in.

Spectrum sent out a reminder for people to also have backup power sources, battery-powered radios, fully charged mobile devices and surge protectors for sudden changes in power.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities has also advised to avoid any contact with downed power lines, as it can never be assumed that they’re off. BGMU has additionally recommended adjusting the thermostat to a temperature just warm enough to stay comfortable and then considering turning it down a degree; bundling up, using floor and ceiling fans alongside heating, and opening blinds when there’s sunlight can help.

Lowering the water heater temperature to 120 degrees and washing laundry with cold water is also helpful, BGMU added.

It’s universally advised to let water drip from faucets and open kitchen and bathroom cabinets for warmer air to prevent pipes from freezing. The City of Franklin also advised keeping garage doors closed if water supply lines are in the garage.

Shelley Lowe, BGMU’s marketing coordinator, added that the utility has a text alert system at bgmu.com for electrical outages, and people can look up weather and water outages on the website. Customers can call the 24/7 dispatch center at 270-782-4302.

The City of Bowling Green advised checking in on elderly neighbors, family members and people with special needs. Pearson recommended also checking in on pets and farm animals, as they too experience stress during extremely low temperatures.