Old North News

City of Charlotte issued the following announcement on Jan. 16.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office and the American Red Cross are demobilizing the emergency shelters activated on Sunday, Jan. 16. Shelter staff at Crews Recreation Center and Hopewell High School demobilized at 7 a.m. on Monday as there were no residents at those shelter locations. Shelter crews at Mallard Creek High School and Central Piedmont will demobilize at noon on Monday.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office, the American Red Cross, and the Town of Matthews are activating emergency shelters in response to the impacts from Winter Storm Izzy. The storm has resulted in a significant accumulation of ice and freezing rain in the Charlotte area. Residents in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County may experience widespread power loss or damage as a result of the ice accumulations and wind gusts. These emergency shelters are open to anyone in the general population that needs a warm, safe place to go. Crews Recreation Center in Matthews will open at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16. All other shelter locations will open on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. At this time, the following locations will serve as the emergency shelters:

• Crews Recreation Center,405 N. Main Street, Matthews, NC 28035
• Hopewell High School, 11530 Beatties Ford Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
• Mallard Creek High School, 3825 Johnston Oehler Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
• Central Piedmont, Worrell Building, 1228 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204

Please note that due to severe staffing shortages across the American Red Cross, many City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County departments and other non-profit agencies, resources are limited at these shelters. All shelters will have heat and power and provide basic meals to shelter residents. If you plan to come to any of the above shelters, please bring the following items with you if you are able:

• Clothing and toiletries for a couple of days
• Extra sleeping bags and/or blankets
• Sweatshirts, jackets, hat, and gloves
• Snacks
• Medications
• Phone and charger
• Books, cards, or other small forms of entertainment

Pets are allowed at all of these emergency shelters. If you plan to go to an emergency shelter, do not leave your pet behind.

Mecklenburg County Public Health nurses will be on-site at the shelter locations and will conduct screening upon entering the shelter. Precautions are in place to quarantine anyone with COVID-19 who arrives at a shelter. All shelter residents will be required to wear masks.

Shelter operations at each open facility will be evaluated throughout the evening on Sunday and first thing on Monday, Jan. 17 and a determination will be made, based on occupancy and need when shelter operations will cease. Information regarding any closures will be announced.

Be aware the conditions on the road are poor and that transportation to these shelters may be dangerous. Take extreme caution when on the roads, reduce your speed, and increase your following distance from vehicles in front of you. CATS will provide free service on routes that serve these locations. Riders can call CATS Customer Service at 704.336.7433 (RIDE) for the most up-to-date information.

Original source can be found here.

Source: City of Charlotte