Warming Centers & Cold Safety

Unpredictable winter weather can make it difficult to stay warm, dry and safe. Knowing, in advance, what to do and where to go can help you avoid cold-related health problems.
 

Extreme Temperatures Information Line – (530) 229-8882

Call to hear recorded information about public heated spaces and, when available, County Warming Centers. This is a non-emergency line. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
 

Stay Safe

The body begins to lose heat faster than it can produce it when exposed to cold temperatures. This can lead to cold-related illness, injury and sometimes death. If the weather is extremely cold, staying inside, with heat, is a way to stay safe. There are places in Shasta County you can go if you are without shelter or a way to heat your home.
 

Public Heated Spaces

Indoor spaces that are open to the public during business hours, such as a library, can be a way to get relief from cold weather. See Supporting Documents below for a list of public heated spaces.
 

Overnight Shelter

People who need overnight shelter can go to the Good News Rescue Mission at 3100 S. Market St., in Redding. For more information, call its front desk at (530) 241-5754.
 

County Warming Centers

HHSA works with community partners to open temporary County Warming Centers in extreme cold weather events.

County Warming Centers are opened at existing facilities, like libraries, churches, senior centers, etc. The centers are open for limited timeframes during an event to provide relief from the cold. They are staffed by HHSA employees.
 

There are no County Warming Centers open at this time - 1/12/2024
 

When a County Warming Center opens, details will be shared via:

• Press release to local media (TV, radio, etc.)
• Recorded message at (530) 229-8882
• Social media @ShastaHHSA for Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter)
• Online at ShastaColdSafety.org
   

When do County Warming Centers open?

HHSA uses the following criteria when considering opening County Warming Centers:

• The National Weather Service issues a cold or freeze warning lasting three or more days. Conditions include low daytime temperatures with nighttime temperatures of 32°F, or less; and/or
• Significant increases in reports of cold-related illness or a cold-related death has occurred; and/or
• An extended power outage during cold/freezing conditions; and/or
• When the Health Officer determines that cold exposure puts lives in imminent danger
   

Check On Others

Make sure to check in with family and friends. People at greater risk for cold-related illness or injury are:

• Elderly
• Sick
• Babies sleeping in cold rooms
• Living in a home that is not well-insulated
• Working or exercising outdoors
• Living on a fixed or low income (some may not want to heat their home due to cost)
• Experiencing homelessness

If you are worried about the safety of elderly or dependent adults in Shasta County, contact Adult Protective Services (APS) at 225-5798. They may be able to do a wellness check, ensuring their safety during extreme cold events.
 

Be Prepared

Click on each link below to learn how to prepare for winter weather emergencies:

• Boost your weather vocabulary by learning the difference between a Watch, Advisory, and Warning
• Frostbite and Hypothermia – webpage, video
• Power Outages – webpage, video
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – webpage, video
• Hazardous Driving Conditions – webpage, video
• Preparing Your Home – webpage
• For People Living with Disabilities – webpage, video
   

Stay Connected

• Weather – U.S. National Weather Service Sacramento Office website, Facebook
• Social media – Shasta HHSA, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, Shasta County
• Emergency Radio Stations – KKRN 88.5 FM and KQMS 105.7 FM, 104.9 FM, 1670 AM
• Local News – KRCR, Action News Now, Record Searchlight
• Local Utilities – REU Outage Map, PG&E Outage Map
• Road Conditions – Caltrans QuickMap, Caltrans District 2 Facebook, or call 1-800-427-7623
• 2-1-1 Shasta – visit 211norcal.org or call 2-1-1 for emergency updates and community resources