Cold weather shelter opens in Ocala

The Salvation Army’s Center for Hope in downtown Ocala includes space for cold weather shelter. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

An arctic air mass on the way to North Florida on Saturday, Jan. 31, posed a threat to people living unsheltered in Marion County.

The National Weather Service posted three warnings for areas including Ocala: Extreme cold warning from Saturday at 9 p.m. until Sunday at 10 a.m., freeze warning from Saturday at 7 p.m. until 11 a.m. Sunday and wind advisory from 1 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday. 

Winds this afternoon are expected to be up to 15 to 21 mph, with gusts up to 34, and low temps Saturday night were expected to be around 20 degrees. Early Sunday, the NWS predicts wind chill temps as low as 8 degrees. 

The Salvation Army of Ocala opened cold weather shelter space and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management was working with community partners to be sure space was available.

“Due to lower temperatures, the Salvation Army is prepared for an influx of individuals seeking shelter over the next few days. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management will be working with the Salvation Army and our other community partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those that require the need for cold weather sheltering according to the MCSO Facebook post. 

“The Salvation Army – Center of Hope check-in time is at 6 p.m.,” the post stated.

A Salvation Army representative who answered the phone Saturday afternoon confirmed the shelter opening and said check in would begin around 5 p.m. A person with a sex offender record cannot be admitted, the representative said. 

The MCSO post reminds people of the “Five Ps” and to be prepared and protect people, pets, pipes, plants and practice fire safety. 

Some people will remain in the only shelter they can find outdoors.

Karla Greenway, CEO of interfaith Emergency Services, a leading agency in aiding the homeless here, encourages people to “please take advantage” of the shelters.

“But unfortunately there will be many that remain outdoors and many will also have pets outdoors with them,” Greenway stated in a text. 

Meanwhile, Greenway said, IES has been distributing warm clothes, blankets and thermal blankets to people in need.

“(We had) one very special donor order two huge boxes of warm-up suits, pants and jackets with hoodies that we’ve been (giving) out all week and of course we’ve had a lot of people help us give out socks and hats and gloves,” Greenway wrote in a text.