Stamford Opens Warming Centers As Frigid Weather Descends on the City

In conjunction with activation of Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol in anticipation of temperatures in the teens and single digits overnight Monday into Tuesday, the City of Stamford has opened warming centers.

“The City of Stamford will do all that it can to ensure that its most vulnerable residents have a place to stay warm and safe,” Mayor David Martin said in the Monday afternoon announcement.

Martin added, “We are proud to be partnering with community agencies to provide warming centers for residents, and for the second year in a row, the City of Stamford is providing an overnight warming center in partnership with Inspirica. I urge all residents to be safe during this severe weather.”

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Stamford’s Director of Public Safety, Health & Welfare Ted Jankowski urged residents to take precautions and stay out of the cold weather during these extreme cold conditions. Jankowski said in a statement, “We have made arrangements with City and community facilities to ensure that there is designated refuge from the cold and we encourage residents to use these resources.”

The following warming centers are open for the times and locations listed:

• Chester Addison Community Center, 245 Selleck St., Monday – Friday (9 am – 6pm).
• Stamford Family YMCA, 10 Bell St., Monday – Friday (9am – 6pm).
• Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 29 Grove St., Monday – Thursday (6pm – 9pm, no Fridays), Saturdays (5pm – 9pm), Sundays (3:30pm – 9pm).
• Glenbrook Community Center, 35 Crescent St., Monday – Friday (8am – 9:30pm), Saturday – Sunday (10am – 9:30pm).
• Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd., 1st floor lobby, Monday - Friday (7am – 10pm)
• Jewish Community Center, 1035 Newfield Ave., Monday – Thursday (5:30am – 10pm), Friday (5:30am – 6pm), Saturday – Sunday (7:30am – 6pm).

During Severe Cold Weather Protocols, Inspirica, the Stamford-based provider of services to the homeless, will provide an overnight warming center from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning at 8 Woodland Pl., Stamford.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

The Stamford Department of Health & Social Services reminds all citizens of the following tips to stay safe during extreme cold.

Dress warmly, and in layers, even if you are just making a short trip to the mailbox. If you fall or a door locks behind you, you could be exposed for a longer period of time than you planned. Cover your skin. When the wind chill brings the temperature well below zero, be sure to cover your skin. In extreme cold, skin exposed to the cold air can get frostbite in just a few minutes. If you have to go outside, you should wear:

• Hat
• Scarf or knit face mask to cover your face and mouth
• Sleeves that are snug at the wrist
• Mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
• Water-resistant coat and boots

Know the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia:

• Symptoms of frostbite can include: loss of feeling and loss of color and usually happens on the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes.
• Symptoms of hypothermia in adults can include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, drowsiness, or slurred speech.
• In infants, symptoms of hypothermia can include bright red, cold skin and low energy.
• Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol lowers the body’s ability to retain heat.