Skip to content

Salvation Army Warming Center Open 24/7 Beginning Friday Evening; City of Lynchburg Encourages Resid

GeneralMember NewsPress Release

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The City of Lynchburg is anticipating a winter storm beginning Saturday afternoon, January 24 and continuing through Sunday, January 25. Heavy snow and sleet accumulations between six and 12 inches are expected, making travel very difficult to impossible. Extreme cold temperatures are expected to take hold Saturday and continue into next week, which will likely prolong the impact of the storm.
 
The Salvation Army, 2215 Park Avenue, is operating a low-barrier warming center for unsheltered individuals and families in the community. The warming center will be open 24/7 beginning Friday evening, January 23. A hot meal will be served daily at 4:30 p.m. This warming center operation is partially funded by the City of Lynchburg’s Community Development Block Grant.
 
The City is requesting the community’s help collecting the following items for the Salvation Army warming center:
·       New twin size sheet sets
·       New blankets or sleeping bags
·       New pillows
·       New thermal socks and gloves
·       Hand warmers
·       Personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wipes)
·       Feminine hygiene products
·       Shelf-stable snacks (granola bars, crackers, ready-to-eat items)
·       Instant coffee, tea, or hot cocoa packets
·       Bottled water or Gatorade
·       Disposable cups and paper products
·       Towels

These items can be dropped off at the following fire stations between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and before noon Saturday, January 24:
·       Station 1: 800 Clay Street
·       Station 3: 4701 Fort Avenue
·       Station 6: 2084 Fort Avenue
·       Station 7: 2624 Lakeside Drive
 
GET PREPARED
Residents are encouraged to take the following steps ahead of the weekend storm:
·       Stock emergency supplies (water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries)
·       Charge phones and backup batteries in case of power outages
·       Check on your neighbors, especially seniors, those living alone or anyone who may need extra help
·       Follow City of Lynchburg social media and subscribe to Lynchburg Alerts (details below)
 
CITY OF LYNCHBURG PREPARATIONS
The City’s Departments of Public Works and Fleet Services are transitioning trucks from leaf collection to pretreatment and snow removal, while ensuring all essential equipment is ready and operational. Public Works crews will apply brine to city streets throughout the day Thursday and Friday and are prepared to begin plowing operations as snow accumulates.
 
Residents are encouraged to use off-street parking if possible to allow easier passage for spreaders, plows, and emergency vehicles. Downtown residents are encouraged to park in the City-owned parking decks (while they are free of charge) to allow more effective clearing of downtown streets.
 
SIGN UP FOR LYNCHBURG ALERTS
Get critical information about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for Lynchburg Alerts notifications. This system enables you to receive critical information quickly in a variety of situations like severe weather, road closures and more. To sign up or to update your existing information, visit https://www.lynchburgva.gov/212/Lynchburg-Alerts.
 
LYNCHBURG WATER RESOURCES 
When temperatures fall below freezing, pipes can break and leak due to expanded, frozen water within. For tips on properly preparing indoor pipes and protecting them from freezing or breaking, visit www.lynchburgva.gov/protectyourpipes.
 
Residents who experience water service disruptions or emergencies can call Lynchburg Water Resources’ 24/7 hotline at 434.455.4250.
 
LYNCHBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT
For flight status information, visit https://flylyh.com/.
 
COLD WEATHER TIPS  
The City of Lynchburg encourages everyone to protect themselves against serious health problems that can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. It is extremely important to take precautions when spending time outdoors as frostbite and hypothermia can be a real possibility. For tips on lowering your risk, please visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-during.   
 
PET SAFETY
Don’t leave pets outdoors when temperatures drop. Animals can and do get frostbite and hypothermia, so keep them indoors if at all possible and provide plenty of food and water. Remember – if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pets as well.
 
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on winter preparedness and dealing with extreme cold, visit https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather.

Salvation Army Warming Center Open 24/7 Beginning Friday Evening; City of Lynchburg Encourages Resid