Worcester Will Open Overnight Warming Center During Arctic Weather

WORCESTER, MA — During this week's arctic freeze, Worcester will open its first overnight winter warming center under a new extreme weather response plan recently completed by the Department of Emergency Management.

Worcester will be under a wind chill warning beginning at 10 a.m. Friday with temperatures set to hover around 15 degrees during daytime hours. After sunset, temperatures will drop to about -8, but blustery winds pull the temperature down to -30 or lower, according to the National Weather Service.

Worcester emergency management director Charles Goodwin presented an updated disaster plan to the city council in January. The plan calls for several new initiatives, including an expansion of heating and cooling centers open during summer and winter weather extremes. During previous seasons, Worcester offered daytime hours at the senior center and main library, but no overnight option.

At 8 a.m. Friday, a warming center at the Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., will open. It will remain open until 6 p.m. Saturday. Anyone interested in volunteering can email onofriom@worcesterma.gov.

"The temporary warming center will be staffed throughout its hours of operation by a combination of members of and volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team. The City’s Quality of Life Task Force will reach out to members of the homeless community leading up to the weekend to refer them to needed services," the city said in a news release.

The shelter will offer relief to local homeless shelters that are often at capacity. The three main shelters for the homeless include the new 60-bed Blessed Sacrament shelter — a replacement for Hotel Grace, which did not reopen this winter — and the South Middlesex Opportunity Council sites at the MLK Center, 237 Chandler St., and 25 Queen St.

Worcester is also offering resources for residents who might experience problems at home during the extreme cold. Residents can call 311 for help with home heating or frozen pipes. The 311 line will be available on Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in addition to typical weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.