vlog.COM AND OUR vlog MOBILE APP. POLK COUNTY IS EXTREME TEMPERATURE PLAN IS ACTIVATED TODAY AND AGAIN TOMORROW. DART IS PROVIDING FREE RIDES TO WARMING CENTERS. vlog BEAU BOWMAN SHOWS US THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. THE FACT THAT TODAY IS A HOLIDAY KIND OF COMPOUNDS THE SITUATION, BECAUSE NOT MANY WARMING CENTERS OTHER THAN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, ARE OPEN. YOU KNOW, IT’S COLD WHEN THE DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS ARE EMPTY. IT HITS YOU LIKE A BRICK WALL. AND THE SKYWALKS ARE FILLED WITH FOLKS WALKING FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING. JUST WISHING WE HAD SNOW. JUST TO CONFIRM THIS COLDNESS. AND IN WESTERN GATEWAY PARK, WE KNOW THAT TODAY IS BRUTAL COLD. YOU CAN FIND THE ONLY WARMING CENTER OPEN TO THOSE IN NEED. MOST OF THE LIBRARIES AROUND DES MOINES ARE CLOSED FOR MLK JUNIOR DAY, BUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SUE WOODY IS KEEPING THE DOORS AT CENTRAL LIBRARY OPEN. THERE’S VERY LIMITED OPENINGS DURING HOLIDAYS LIKE MLK. JUNIOR HOLIDAY IS TODAY. ALL OF OUR SIX LOCATIONS ARE CLOSED, SO WE JUST OPENED THE MEETING ROOM WING OF THE CENTRAL SHELTER, WHERE CENTRALLY LOCATED, WE ARE ON BUS LINES. DART PROVIDES FREE TRANSPORTATION TO WARMING SHELTERS, SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE OPEN TODAY. WOODY SAYS FOOT TRAFFIC FOR THE WARMING CENTER SEEMED TO BE DOWN ON MONDAY. SHE BELIEVES THAT’S DUE TO THE LACK OF SNOW ON THE GROUND, BUT ENCOURAGES ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO WARM UP TO WALK IN. THAT’S THE PURPOSE OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE SERVE EVERYONE AND NOT EVERYONE IS HERE JUST TO CHECK OUT A BOOK, BUT THEY COME FOR A SAFE, WARM SPACE. NOW, TUESDAY, A LOT MORE OF THESE WARMING CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN, AND ALL THE OTHER LIBRARIES ACROSS DES MOINES, BECAUSE IT’S NOT A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN DES MOINES. BE
Dangerous cold opens warming center Monday, more opening Tuesday
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Updated: 6:16 PM CST Jan 20, 2025
Polk County has activated its Extreme Temperature Plan due to the severe cold weather, which coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This has resulted in the closure of many usual warming centers. However, DART is offering free rides to those centers that remain open, though it's advised to check the city's website or call ahead to confirm availability.The Central Library in Des Moines is the only one open to provide warmth to those in need. Executive Director Sue Woody explained, "There are very limited openings during holidays like Martin Luther King Junior is today all of our six locations are closed so we just opened the meeting room wing of the central shelter, we're centrally located we are on bus lines, DART provides free transportation to warming shelters, so that's why we're open today."Despite the cold, foot traffic at the Central Library's warming center was lower than expected, which Woody attributes to the absence of snow. She encourages anyone in need of warmth to visit, emphasizing, "That's the purpose of a public library we serve everyone and not everyone is here just to check out a book, they come for a safe warm space."Looking ahead to Tuesday, more warming centers are expected to open as the holiday concludes, providing additional options for those seeking refuge from the cold.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Polk County has activated its Extreme Temperature Plan due to the severe cold weather, which coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This has resulted in the closure of many usual warming centers. However, DART is offering free rides to those centers that remain open, though it's advised to check the city's website or call ahead to confirm availability.
The Central Library in Des Moines is the only one open to provide warmth to those in need. Executive Director Sue Woody explained, "There are very limited openings during holidays like Martin Luther King Junior is today all of our six locations are closed so we just opened the meeting room wing of the central shelter, we're centrally located we are on bus lines, DART provides free transportation to warming shelters, so that's why we're open today."
Despite the cold, foot traffic at the Central Library's warming center was lower than expected, which Woody attributes to the absence of snow. She encourages anyone in need of warmth to visit, emphasizing, "That's the purpose of a public library we serve everyone and not everyone is here just to check out a book, they come for a safe warm space."
Looking ahead to Tuesday, more warming centers are expected to open as the holiday concludes, providing additional options for those seeking refuge from the cold.
