By the calendar, winter in the northern hemisphere lasts 89 days and began this year on Dec. 21, based on the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year (by daylight hours).
But here in Mississippi, the things normally associated with winter follow no calendar or any discernible schedule.
For us, winter began this week, at least in terms of sustained cold weather. For the first time this year, the overnight low temperature in our area will dip into the teens early Saturday morning and low temps will not get out of the 20s until overnight Monday. Overnight lows for the rest of next week are expected to be below freezing.
The arrival of sustained cold weather should remind us to take precautions against these conditions. It’s time to bring pets and plants inside, insulate exposed water faucets and pipes, check your antifreeze levels in your automobiles.
These measures will safeguard you against the worst effects of the approaching cold weather.
There are other more important concerns with the pending cold weather: your neighbors.
Today is a good day to do a welfare check on shut-ins and elderly people, who may not be able to take care of themselves in these conditions. It’s worth a polite visit to check on things like heating, especially for those who may rely on alternatives to conventional heating such as stoves and space heaters. Each year, thousands of fires are attributed to space heaters, stoves and overloaded electrical outlets. These are needless tragedies that could be prevented if there were someone to inspect and intervene.
In conditions such as this, organizations devoted to providing assistance for the poor, the elderly and the homeless are always put to the challenge. The City of Columbus, in conjunction with the Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition has opened its warning station at Propst Park, and it will remain open until the freezing weather abates.
We encourage citizens to contact the city’s Community Outreach office at 662-244-3525, the Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition at 662-549-2643, The Salvation Army in Columbus (662-245-1542) or Starkville (662-324-3304), The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee County (662-370-1922), the United Way of North Central Mississippi in Starkville (662-323-3820) or the United Way of West Point (662-494-8089) to learn how you can help.
Your church or civic organization may also have programs to aid those who are vulnerable.
It’s also a good time to do an inventory of your closets and storage. The warm clothing you haven’t worn in ages might be a godsend to others. Blankets that have lingered, unused, in storage somewhere might help take the chill off a winter’s night for someone whose home heating is insufficient.
What might not be of immediate use may be of use later as the threat of cold weather continues.
Winter is here. Take care of yourself. Take care of others.
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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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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