Warming center expands opening this week

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Onward Roseburg is seeking volunteers to help expand its Roseburg Warming Center opening this week from Monday night, Feb. 13, through Saturday morning, Feb. 18.

Everyone in need of temporary overnight shelter on especially cold winter nights will be welcome at the center housed in the Roseburg Senior Center, 1614 SE Stephens St., said warming center operator Kimetha Stallings.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for areas of Roseburg above 500 feet and a Winter Storm Warming for areas above 1,500 feet from 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, until 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. Light accumulations of an inch or so are possible in valleys west of the Cascade Mountains. Snow accumulation of two to four inches could occur in areas above 500 feet. Heavy snow is predicted in places above 1,500 feet with 3 to 6 inches possible. Overnight lows of 20 to 33 are predicted for Monday through Friday nights.

“These are dangerous conditions,” said Stallings, founder of Onward Roseburg.

Check-in begins at 6 p.m. with 60 cots available for guests and volunteers. A free senior center shuttle will make a circuit around town to pick up guests starting about 5:30 p.m. and operate again in the morning. But individuals can arrive any time during the night and stay until 8 a.m. A cot, blanket and pillow plus hot dinner and breakfast are provided.

Volunteers can sign up at signupgenius.com: https://bit.ly/3lw0Kk2

The City may help pay operating costs if needed. Also, the Roseburg Rescue Mission offers overnight shelter at 752 SE Pine St. all year.

The City’s Severe Event Shelter Policy, Resolution No. 2020-22, provides operational standards for organizations seeking City approval to open a temporary emergency shelter in buildings not designated as residential occupancy. Those operational standards include allowing a warming shelter to open during severe weather:

• on nights when the low temperatures are predicted to be 30 degrees Fahrenheit or less;

• or when low temperatures are forecasted to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less with additional factors that could increase a person’s risk of exposure to cold such as precipitation, wind, fog and sustained low temperatures.