The City of Jacksonville and surrounding areas are opening warming shelters to help get people out of the freezing temperatures Monday and Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Temperatures across the First Coast will drop below freezing tonight, and the First Coast News weather team has issued a Weather Impact Alert into Wednesday. 

Below is a county-by-county list of known warming shelters in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, as well as their operating times. More will be added as they become apparent.


Florida


Duval County

The City of Jacksonville is activating its Warming Center Contingency plan overnight Monday.

The city opens the Legends Center (5130 Soutel Dr.) overnight for people in need of shelter whenever temperatures hit 27 degrees or lower. It will be open from 9 p.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

JTA buses will provide free rides to the shelter, which will be staffed and have water available on-site.

Only service animals will be allowed inside.

Residents using the warming center are asked to bring the following items, if desired:

Air mattress, blankets, pillows, or other beddingSnacks and medicationGames, toys, and booksHygiene and comfort items

All libraries and city community centers will also serve as daytime warming centers during regular business hours.

Outside of the Legends Center, the city’s nonprofit partners will provide cold-weather shelter services to those experiencing homelessness:

City Rescue Mission, 234 W. State St.Mission House, 465 11th Ave., with overnight operations at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal, 1150 5th St.Sulzbacher Center611 East Adams St. – Men5455 Springfield Blvd. – Women and childrenTrinity Rescue Mission, 622 W. Union St.


St. Johns County

The First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine (pumpkin church), located at 118 King Street, will open as a cold shelter at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.

On cold nights, people in St. Johns County can call the cold night shelter hotline at (904) 819-4344 for the most up-to-date information.


Bradford County

The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office lobby, located at 945-B North Temple Ave. in Starke, will open as a warming center during overnight hours.

The center will open at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, and close at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Chairs and bathrooms will be available, but no additional services will be provided.

Note: Warming centers are evaluated on a daily basis based on forecasted temperatures. Continue to monitor Sheriff Smith’s and the Emergency Management Division’s Facebook pages for updates on additional openings.


Nassau County

The auditorium at the MLK Jr. Recreational Center on Elm Street will serve as a cold shelter Monday night.

The shelter is offered through a partnership between the Coalition for the Homeless in Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach any time the weather is predicted to drop below 40 degrees.


Columbia County

Parkview Baptist Church (268 NW Lake Jeffery Rd.) in Lake City will serve as a cold shelter Monday night and Tuesday night.

Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.


Flagler County

The Sheltering Tree will be open Monday night and Tuesday night.

The shelter is operated at the Rock Transformation Center (2200 N. State St.) and opens each night at 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following day. It is open to anyone without heat or housing.

The Sheltering Tree says it averages about 28 guests per night.

Bus transportation to the shelter will be provided by the county:

McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.Circle K at Kingswood and Old Kings Road, 4:40 p.m.Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:50 p.m.Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:55 p.m.Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 5 p.m.Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 5 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)


Georgia


Ware County

Waycross City Manager Ulysses Rayford says that the Police Department courtroom will be open through Tuesday for anyone needing shelter from the cold. Severa other faith-based organizations are also expected to open their doors, Rayford said Monday.