Pittsfield Opens Warming Centers As Frigid Temps Hit The Berkshires

With record low temperatures throughout the region today, the City of Pittsfield has designated three warming centers in the city to assist community members looking to get some relief from the cold.

The warming centers include:

• The Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street

• Christian Center’s adjacent warming shelter, 193 Robbins Ave

• The Salvation Army, 298 West Street

Warm beverages are available too...

According to a media release from the Office of Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, at each location, visitors will be able to have a warm beverage and charge devices, if necessary.

Each location will serve as a warming center during its normal hours of operations: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Senior Center; 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Christian Center; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Salvation Army. St. Joe’s, located at 2 Maplewood Ave., continues to be available for overnight shelter services.

Further information...

Please call 413-320-6550 for more information. For those dealing with weather-related emergencies after-hours, please call the Pittsfield Police Department who will provide further assistance specific to these matters. As city officials continue to monitor the weather, any significant updates will be provided as necessary through the city’s CodeRED notification system and/or through the Pittsfield City Hall Facebook page.

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Some helpful tips from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:

• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your arms, legs, hands, and feet. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

• Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Do not place anything within 3 feet of a space heater and always plug them into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

• Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated. • If you lose heating, move into a single room. At night, cover windows and external doors with extra blankets or sheets.

• Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.

• If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hairdryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.

• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need extra help.

Also, please remember to get your pets inside and be aware of any animals that may have been left outside by someone else!