Denver opens 24-hour emergency warming shelter ahead of arctic blast

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DENVER — In anticipation of an arctic blast that could see low temperatures plunge double digits below zero on Thursday, the City and County of Denver is turning the Denver Coliseum into a 24-hour warming station for people in need of shelter. The shelter opens Wednesday.

In a press release, city officials noted that severe weather is especially dangerous to those experiencing homelessness. They added that the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) is conducting outreach to unhoused residents.

People in need of shelter can also visit Denver recreation centers and public libraries to escape the cold. However, those facilities will only be available during business hours. Recreation center locations and business hours are available here. Library locations and hours can be found here.

It is important to note that three recreation centers, however, are currently being used to shelter migrants who arrived in the city in recent weeks. According to a Dec. 19 press release from the Denver Office of Emergency Management (OEM), 408 migrants are currently sheltered at Denver recreation centers. Since Dec. 9, the city has assisted more than 1,100 migrants, Denver OEM said.

The temperature in Denver will drop to around 13 below zero starting Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder. The high temperature on Thursday is expected to be around minus 2. The NWS said the last time Denver had a high below zero was Feb. 5, 2014.

Wind chills will make the weather even more extreme. By Wednesday night, the NWS said, wind chills will be “dangerously cold” — about minus 32 in Denver and minus 50 in the northeast plains of Colorado. At that temperature, frostbite can occur on exposed flesh in 10 minus or less.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has useful information at this link for spotting and treating hypothermia and frostbite.

The high temperature Friday is likely to be in the teens, then warming over the following days. On Christmas, the NWS is forecasting a high of about 51.

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment compiled this list of tips for dealing with extreme cold:

  • Prepare for power outages. Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind, each person’s specific needs, including medication. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights. 
  • If you lose heat at your home, consider visiting a warming center to stay warm. 
  • If you must be outdoors, dress in multiple layers of warm clothing, including hat, mittens, scarves, and boots. 
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed in the event of power outage. If your power is out for more than four hours, discard perishable food like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers. 
  • Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. Keep the gas tank full. 
  • Listen for emergency information and alerts. 
  • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

Kyle Cooke is the digital media manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at kylecooke@rmpbs.org.