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1/20/2025 - COLD WEATHER ADVISORY

Warming Station:

Clark Memorial Library is open and welcomes any town resident. When the Library is open and it can be used as a warming center. The Library’s hours of operation are as follows:

Tues: 10:30 AM - 7 PM
Wed: 10:30 AM - 7 PM
Thurs: 10:30 AM - 7 PM
Fri: 10:30 AM - 3 PM
Sat: 10:30 AM - 5 PM

 

Shelters:

Operate on a referral basis. If you or someone you know is homeless, unstably housed, or their heating system has filed and is in need of shelter. They or a friend can call 2-1-1 for assistance and gain access the shelters below.

 

SHELTERS

Name: Columbus House (Adult men & women)

Phone: 211

Address: 586 Ella T Grasso Boulevard

Website: http://www.columbushouse.org/

 

Name: Columbus House (Families)

Phone: 211

Address: 209 Terminal Lane

Website: http://www.columbushouse.org/

 

Name: Continuum of Care (Adult men & women)

Phone: 211

Address: 270 Foxon Boulevard

Website: https://www.continuumct.org/

 

Name: Martha’s Place / New Reach, Inc (Women)

Phone: 211

Address: 559 Howard Ave.

Website: https://utrm.org/community-outreach/

 

Name: Life Haven Shelter / New Reach, Inc (Families)

Phone: 211

Address: 447 Ferry Street  

Website: http://newreach.org/

 

Name: Hillside Family Shelter (Families)

Phone: 211

Address: 168 Davenport Ave  

Website: https://www.ccahelping.org/

 

Name: Upon This Rock Ministries Shelter

Phone: 211

Address: 645 Grand Avenue

Website: https//:www.utrm.org

 

When it's Cold Remember the 3Ps.
PEOPLE
: Keep your family warm and check on any elderly family or neighbors that may need extra blankets or a warm place to stay.
 If your heat fails, call your service company immediately. If you CO detector sounds, leave the house and from your car or neighbor’s house call 911.


When you are outside, frostbite and hypothermia are possible so you need to protect yourself. Wear layers of warm clothing, a hat and mittens or gloves. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.


Watch for the signs of Hypothermia including confusion, drowsiness, weakness and loss of coordination, pale cold skin, slowed breathing or heart rate and shivering that cannot be controlled (although at extremely low body temperatures, shivering may stop). Call 911 if you are showing signs of Hypothermia.


PETS and LIVESTOCK:  Dogs and cats get cold too. Bring them inside at night to keep them healthy and safe or into protected covered areas, provided with plenty of bedding, food and drinking water.


During walks, your dog's feet, legs and belly may pick up de-icing products, antifreeze, or other chemicals that could be toxic. When you get back inside, wipe down or wash your pet's feet, legs and belly to remove these chemicals and reduce the risk that your dog will be poisoned after they lick them off their feet or fur.


Livestock should be provided with a windbreak and roof shelter, and monitored for signs of discomfort including extensive shivering, weakness, and lethargy. Horses should be fitted with blankets. Double the amount of warm bedding used. Hay or straw will provide the best insulation against the cold.


Animals keep warm by expending energy, which means they need to consume enough calories to heat themselves. This may mean increasing the amount of feed available to your animals, and/or increasing the quality of feed.


It is crucial that your animals have access to fresh and unfrozen water. Tank heaters or heated buckets can keep water at a temperature your animals are more comfortable drinking. Livestock will not consume adequate amounts of water if it is near freezing.


PIPES:  Cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst. To prevent this, you can insulate pipes, let faucets drip, and adjust your thermostat so it does not setback.


Turn off and drain any outdoor faucets. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if your sinks are on an exterior wall. If you have small children, be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals and store them in a safe place. Keep outside doors including garage doors closed, check your windows and unused chimney dampers and ensure there closed.

 

Michael Katzmark, MS, CEM

Emergency Management Director

Town of Bethany