As temperatures in the Golden Triangle area drop throughout the evening, emergency management agency directors and first responders are reminding residents to keep themselves — and elderly neighbors and family members — safe.
Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties are all under a hard freeze warning, with temperatures expected at 20 degrees Farenheit or lower Monday night and into Tuesday.
“During bad weather, the elderly are usually the most vulnerable,” Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence said.
She and United Way of North Central Mississippi Director Brittney Oliver urged residents to check on their neighbors, but to stay safe while doing so.
“Reach out to your neighbors by phone,” Oliver said. “Utilize other means to find out if anyone needs help at this time.”
Elderly people may be in need of essential items such as water, food and blankets while the bad weather lasts, Lawrence said.
“If you have an older neighbor and can walk to their house to check on them, that would be great,” Lawrence said. “Otherwise, I would advise not getting on the roads and just calling them.”
Oliver said that elderly people should continue to stay inside and can reach out to the United Way at 662-323-3830 or Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Agency at 662-338-1084 if they are in need of assistance.
“Look at different social organizations, United Way included,” Oliver said. “Reach out if you need supplies, need food or help keeping warm.”
The Golden Triangle Regional Homeless Coalition has also opened a warming shelter in Columbus for those in need of a place to stay warm and sleep this week. The shelter will be open for the next five days and is operating out of First Baptist Church on Seventh Street.
Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton said police will provide transportation for those wanting to use the shelter. People can call 911 for an officer to pick up those in need.
Oktibbeha County EMA Director Kristen Campanella said there is a shelter on standby for Starkville and Oktibbeha County if needed. This shelter is only a warming center though, not a sleeping shelter. People who need to utilize this resource can call Oktibbeha County EMA.
For those staying in their own homes, Shelton added for residents to be careful when trying to create heat in homes. Keep any kerosene or electric heaters away from items that could cause a fire, he said.
“We want people to keep themselves warm but also keep themselves safe,” Shelton said.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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