Community Corner

Carroll County Opens Warming Centers Through Friday

Temperatures will fall to single digits over the next few days.

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Kym Byrnes, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Forecasters are anticipating frigid temperatures with wind chills below zero in the coming days. Because of the anticipated dangerously cold weather, the Carroll County Department of Citizen Services will operate six warming centers around the county from Wednesday through Friday. 

The public libraries will also be open and available to anyone in need of a warm place. All residents who are vulnerable to extreme cold and who do not have sufficient heat in their homes are encouraged to seek warmth in any of the following locations:  

From 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  at the 

  • Mount Airy Senior and Community Center, 703 Ridge Avenue, Mount Airy 
  • North Carroll Senior and Community Center, 2328 Hanover Pike, Greenmount 
  • South Carroll Senior and Community Center, 5928 Mineral Hill Rd, Eldersburg 
  • Taneytown Senior and Community Center, 220 Roberts Mill Road, Taneytown 
  • Westminster Senior and Community Center, 125 Stoner Avenue, Westminster 
From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. 
  • Citizen Services Office Building, 10 Distillery Drive, Westminster 
From 9 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. 
  • Eldersburg Branch Carroll County Public Library, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg 
  • Finksburg Branch Carroll County Public Library, 2265 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg 
  • Mt. Airy Branch Carroll County Public Library, 705 Ridge Avenue, Mt. Airy 
  • North Carroll Branch Carroll County Public Library, 2255 Hanover Pike, Greenmount 
  • Taneytown Branch Carroll County Public Library, 10 Grand Drive, Taneytown 
  • Westminster Branch Carroll County Public Library, 50 East Main Street, Westminster  
For after hours and cold shelter needs, Human Services Programs of Carroll County, Inc. (410) 857-2999 operates a Cold Weather Shelter at 127 Stoner Ave. in Westminster overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Through Friday, Jan. 24 the Cold Weather Shelter will remain open until 8 a.m.

In times when overflow space is needed, HSP has partnered with the Westminster Rescue Mission to provide transportation to a limited number of alternative overnight accommodations.

During the day, On Our Own (410) 751-6600 provides a Cold Shelter at 265 E. Main St. in Westminster, from about 7 a.m. to about 6:45 p.m.

The Carroll County Office of Public Safety, Support Services, Emergency Management encourages people to follow these safety tips when temperatures are extremely cold: 
  • Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young. Remember to consider your pets. 
  • Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing. Wear a hat and mittens to stay warmer. 
  • Be careful of frostbite. If a part of the body loses feeling and the skin feels waxy or looks white or grey, warm gently and seek medical help. 
  • Watch out for hypothermia. Shivering, memory loss, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness are all warning signs. Seek medical attention for signs of hypothermia.  

For more safety tips, refer to the Citizen’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness, available online at http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/pubsafe/emer-prep.pdf or contact the Emergency Management staff at 410-386-2877.  For information about Carroll’s senior and community centers, call the Bureau of Aging at 410-386-3800.  

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