LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Meteorologists warned us early that this was not going to be a fun week and unfortunately they were right. While we didn't see a lot more snow Tuesday, crews across the state spent the day trying to restore power, clear roads, and deal with other weather-related issues.
The National Weather Service says tonight will be very cold with low temperatures in the single digits. We could also see single-digit windchill readings Wednesday morning. Meteorologists are keeping an eye on another winter storm system that will hit Kentucky Wednesday night and last through early Friday morning.
Vulnerable residents
In Louisville, Resilience and Community Services (RCS) is in contact with the Coalition for the Homeless to make sure shelter space is available.
In a news release sent to television stations, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, “As we expect to see temperatures drop into the teens and single digits, our biggest concern right now is cold weather and keeping our most vulnerable residents safe from the harsh winter conditions.”
RCS director Tameka Laird provided an updated list of available shelters and encouraged unsheltered residents to contact the Single Point of Entry to inquire about shelter options. Staff can be reached at 502-637-2337 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.
“I commend these dedicated frontline workers, and the countless outreach teams, who provide these essential services for individuals experiencing homelessness,” she said. “I also want to assure all who are seeking shelter that our community’s shelters have been and continue to follow safe, COVID-19 guidelines.”
Operation White Flag goes into effect when the temperature or wind chill is below 35 degrees.
Shelter availability:
- Southend Street Angels is hosting a 24-hour low-barrier shelter at Grace Church, 6901 Mt. Calvary Drive, until 7 a.m. Wednesday. They will accept singles and couples with a 15-bed capacity. Pets are accepted. Call Amanda at 435-7064.
- Vincent de Paul, 1034 S. Jackson St., has shelter space available (for men only).
- Wayside Christian Mission, 432 E. Jefferson St., has shelter space available and is operating 24/7. Wayside is also helping to provide transportation services for those needing to reach shelters. Call 502-996-1888. Pets are accepted in the Low Barrier Shelter at Wayside. During White Flag, previously barred clients are allowed inside, except for those barred for violence against staff or other clients.
- Salvation Army, 911 S. Brook St., is operating a Healthy Day Shelter location at their campus with a 400-person capacity. No reservations are required. They also are operating a Healthy Overnight Shelter with a 70-bed capacity for men and women at the Brook Street campus. Call 502-671-4904 to check bed availability.
- The Healing Place (for men only) at 1020 W. Market St. has a 48-bed capacity. Call 502-585-4848 to check bed availability.
- Overflow Capacity: Also, Wayside Mission, which operates Hotel Louisville, can make overflow/shelter beds available if needed. Call 502-389-9009. Transportation Available to Shelters: Wayside is also helping to provide transportation services for those needing to reach shelters. Call 502-996-1888.
Louisville's Meals on Wheels frozen meal deliveries are being rescheduled and the Senior Nutrition distribution sites are closed. RCS is contacting homebound seniors to check-in on them and give them food if necessary.
Louisville Metro Police
Because of the icy conditions, LMPD is only responding to car crashes. Motorists are being asked to exchange information. You can also go to the LMPD website, click on the 'services" tab to report an accident, and download the Kentucky Civilian Traffic Collison Report.
LouVax
The LouVax vaccination site at Broadbent Arena is closed today.
Appointments for those scheduled to receive their vaccinations today are canceled. Those individuals will receive an email from LouHealthCovidVaccines@louisvilleky.gov inviting them to reschedule according to their availability. The LouVax team will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow to ensure the lot has been properly cleaned and salted for the safety of staff, volunteers, and motorists arriving for the vaccine.
The team will continue to monitor tomorrow evening’s weather, and decisions will be made and announced by 6 a.m. Thursday. Operations are expected to resume normal hours on Friday.
On Saturday, the LouVax site is extending its hours for a one-time event from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for required second-dose appointments.
Library
The Louisville Free Public Library will operate on a modified schedule for today. Library staff will contact everyone with appointments to confirm or reschedule, depending on patrons' preferences. As conditions change, please check the Library's website, LFPL.org, or social media for updates.
Utilities
LG&E’s reminds everyone to stay away from fallen lines and treat them as dangerous live wires. LG&E customers should call (502) 589-1444 to notify the utilities of the location of any downed powerlines. Customers can view the utilities’ online outage map and report outages online at lge-ku.com. You can also report an outage by using Outage Texting or the automated phone system.
Louisville Water is responding to emergencies as safety is a priority for employees, customers, and the general public. Homeowners should continue to take precautions to prevent their pipes from bursting – wrap exposed pipes with an insulating material, tag outdoor water shut-off valve, cover crawl spaces and outside vents, keep garage doors closed and run a small steady stream of water from a cold-water faucet.
Sidewalks
Homeowners are reminded that they are responsible to shovel the sidewalk in front of a house they own or rent in within a timely matter of 24 hours. This includes keeping the area free of all overhanging trees, shrubs, and other debris that block walkways.
TARC
All TARC routes are operating on Winter Weather Detours at this time. For real-time updates, and to help plan ahead with a list of the most common detours implemented during severe winter weather, please visit the News & Events page at ridetarc.org
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