NEW ORLEANS — An Arctic air mass is forecast to bring dangerously cold weather to our area starting Thursday night and continuing through Christmas Day.
With freezing temperatures forecast for our area, parishes are opening cold-weather shelters for people who need them.
Here are the shelters that have been announced so far:
Hancock County, Miss.
The county will open a cold weather shelter on Dec. 22 through Dec. 26. It will open at 6 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center Building at 18333 Highway 603 in Kiln.
If you need a ride, contact the Hancock County Emergency Management Office at 228-255-0942 or the Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191 for assistance.
Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish will coordinate temporary housing for homeless individuals through outreach groups. Anyone in need can contact the Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center at 504-349-5360.
Terrytown Playground and Bright Playground will be open as warming centers starting at 9:00 p.m., Thursday, December 22, for the remainder of the freezing weather. Residents in need of assistance or shelter during the cold, call the EOC at 504-349-5360.
Orleans Parish
City of New Orleans is activating the City’s Freeze Plan and will open three overnight Emergency Resource Centers/Warming Centers starting at 6 PM Thursday through 6 PM Monday at the following locations:
- Joe Brown Recreation Center (5601 Read Blvd) – ONLY LOCATION THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE PETS
- Rosenwald Recreation Center (1120 S. Broad St.)
- Cut-Off Recreation Center (6600 Belgrade St.)
Each of these sites will also have cots, hot evening meals, water/warm beverages, and charging stations available.
St. Bernard Parish
The parish will open a warming station in The Val Riess multi-purpose building, located at 1101 Magistrate Street in Chalmette.
The warming station will open at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22 and will remain open through the freeze event. The Sheriff's office will assist anyone in need of transportation to the warming station.
Pets will only be allowed in kennels.
St. Charles Parish
St. Charles Parish will open a warming shelter at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center at 274 Edward Dufresne Parkway, Luling, LA 70070, on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Residents needing a warm place to stay should arrive no later than 12 a.m. If no one arrives by midnight, the shelter will close. The shelter is only for St. Charles Parish residents, and IDs will be checked.
Cots will be available, and the Red Cross is providing pillows and blankets. Residents should bring additional blankets, snacks and water. Additionally, no weapons or other contraband will be allowed in the shelter.
St. John the Baptist Parish
Beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 22, 2022, St. John Parish will open the following locations as Warming Centers for residents:
- West St. John High School Gymnasium - 480 LA 3127, Edgard
- Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School Gymnasium- 3328 Highway 51, LaPlace
St. Tammany Parish
A warming shelter will be available at the Giving Hope Retreat in Lacombe from noon on Dec. 22 to noon on Dec. 26.
Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish will have a warming center on standby that will open based on need. Residents need to notify 911 or the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office if they need shelter.
WWL-TV will continue to update this list as more information becomes available.
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