(Columbia County) Columbia County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to prepare for the extreme cold weather that is in the forecast. Officials say these types of weather conditions can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals. Officials are offering tips for staying warm and have announced the hours of warming centers in the county:
Village of Cambria
Jane Morgan Memorial Library
109 West Edgewater Street, Cambria, WI 53911
Hours of Operation: Tues and Thurs – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
City of Columbus
Columbus Community Center
161 N. Dickason Boulevard
open 24 hours from Friday 8:00 a.m., February 5th, until Saturday, February 13th at 8:00 a.m.
If transportation is needed to the shelter, please notify Columbia County Dispatch Non- Emergency Number – they will notify Columbus EM.
Village of Fall River
Fall River Village Hall
641 South Main Street, Fall River, WI 53932
Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Village of Pardeeville
Pardeeville Village Hall
114 Lake Street, Pardeeville, WI 53954
Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
City of Lodi
Lodi Community Center
601 Clark Street, Lodi WI 53555
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
For those at risk outside of those times, please contact the Lodi Police Department at 608-742-4166 (Columbia County Dispatch – they will contact Lodi Police)
City of Portage
In the City of Portage, the following warming centers will be open Tuesday – Friday:
Portage Municipal Building Basement Meeting Room
115 W. Pleasant Street
Portage, WI 53901
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Going forward, City Hall will not be available 2/12-2/17 due to set up, election day and tear down after.
Portage Public Library
253 W Edgewater Street
Portage, WI 53901
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
9:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Saturday
Village of Randolph
Village of Randolph
248 W. Stroud Street, Randolph, WI 53956
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
If the public is in need of shelter accommodations outside of these designated times, please notify your local municipality or the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 608-742-4166 Extension 1 and request Emergency Management.
NOTE: COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS – SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED
You will be provided a warm place to sit. No other amenities will be provided. Please bring the following with you:
- Bring your own food and water
- Bring medications with you
- Bring games, books, or playing cards
- Bring toys for your children to play with
- NO PETS will be allowed at the shelters
The following actions are recommended during extreme cold temperatures:
- Check on the elderly (they slip and fall going out to get mail)
- Travel is discouraged, but if you have to travel, make sure to have an emergency kit, extra blankets and plenty of warm clothing
- Check on pets (make sure they have proper shelter)
- Do not let children play outside, frostbite can begin on exposed skin within 5-10 minutes in these extreme temperatures
- Make sure intoxicated persons get home safe and don’t wander
- Keep fuel tanks full
- Do not run heaters off of extension cords (this is the cause of many fires as the cords are not heavy enough to handle the electric load)
