(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — To help residents deal with the extreme cold, Cook County and Chicago officials activated additional warming centers Saturday, and about two dozen more will open their doors tomorrow. Here’s how to find the centers nearest to you.
In Chicago:
Starting Saturday, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the lower level of Harold Washington Library would serve as a 24/7 warming center through Wednesday. He added that migrants awaiting shelter at the landing zone would be transported to the library. The city's six other warming centers, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., can be found below.
Chicago warming centers, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-Englewood Community Service Center, 1140 W. 79th St.
-Garfield Community Service Center, 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
-Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
-North Area Community Service Center, 845 W. Wilson Ave.
-South Chicago Community Service Center, 8560 S. Commercial Ave.
-Trina Davila Community Service Center, 4312 W. North Ave.
On Monday, the City of Chicago said multiple Chicago Park District facilities to serve as warming centers all over the city. Find a full list of Chicago Park District warming centers here, while a complete list of warming centers located in the city can be found here.
The district said landscape crews have been working to make sure the sidewalks and parking lots are clear of snow and ice. Meanwhile, it has closed outdoor skating rinks and the Lakefront Path between North Avenue and Ohio Street Beach.
The Department of Family and Support Services has activated drop-in centers to provide extended hours to people experiencing homelessness. Find the full list of locations here.
In Cook County:
County courthouses in Markham, Maywood and Skokie will stay open 24/7 during this cold snap.
“Originally, our warming centers were set to be open until Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.,” said Cook County Spokeswoman Natalia Derevyanny. “We have since then changed that — given the forecast and how cold and dangerous the temperatures are — so our warming centers are now going to be open until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.”
Derevyanny said this is the first time this winter they’ve opened warming centers. The spaces at courthouses and township buildings are near PACE bus routes and offer warmth, bathrooms and refreshments.
The courthouse warming shelters will allow pets — other warming centers in Cook County will not — but Derevyanny added that if you need to bring a pet to keep it warm as well, you must have it in a carrier.
The Markham Courthouse is located at 16501 S. Kedzie Ave.; the Maywood Courthouse is located at 1500 Maybrook Dr.; and the Skokie Courthouse is located at 5600 Old Orchard Road.
View a map of Cook County’s warming centers here.
Cook County warming centers (hours vary)
-Worth Township: 11601 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip
-Hanover Township Senior Center: 240 S. Route 59, Bartlett
-Berwyn Township Library: 2701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn
-Berwyn Township Recreation Department: 6501 W. 31st St., Berwyn
-Brookfield (Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library): 3541 Park Ave., Brookfield
-Stickney Township (Louis S. Viverity Senior Center): 7745 S. Leamington Ave., Burbank
-Calumet Township: 12633 S. Ashland Ave., Calumet Park
-Bloom Township: 425 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights
-Cicero Township: 5444 W. 34th St., Cicero
-Cicero Township (Community Building): 2250 S. 49th St., Cicero
-Cicero Township (Village Building): 4949 W. Cermak Road, Cicero
-Elk Grove Township: 600 Landmeier Road, Elk Grove Village
-Leyden Township: 2620 N. Mannheim Road, Franklin Park
-Proviso Township: 4565 Harrison St., Hillside
-Schaumburg Township: 1 Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates
-Lemont Township (Lemont Township Offices): 1115 Warner Ave., Lemont
-Bremen Township: 16361 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham
-Norwood Park Township: 7833 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge
-Orland Township: 14807 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park
-Palatine Township: 721 Quentin Road, Palatine
-Maine Township: 1700 Ballard St., Park Ridge
-Riverside Township: 27 Riverside Road, Riverside
-Niles Township: 5255 Lincoln Ave, Skokie
The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security is reminding residents to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves during extreme, cold weather.
-Never use your oven for heat.
-Never bring charcoal or gas grills indoors (they are a carbon monoxide hazard).
-Make sure all portable heaters are unplugged when not in use. Use electric space heaters with extreme caution. Avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials and turn them off before going to bed.
-Keep heat at adequate levels or leave faucets open with a slight drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
-Keep moving. Your body generates its own heat when you engage in physical activities.
The National Weather Service said the region will likely not see temperatures above zero degrees until Wednesday.
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