Evanston Opens Levy Senior Center As Weekend Warming Center

EVANSTON, IL — City officials issued a cold weather advisory Friday and announced a warming center would be available during the weekend. Residents were asked to take precautions to stay safe with extremely cold temperatures in the forecast for Evanston in the coming days.

The city's Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., will be available as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, city staff announced.

Saturday night into Sunday morning is expected to see the coldest temperatures, with a 60 percent chance of snow and overnight wind chill values as low as minus 15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Interfaith Action of Evanston will provide transportation for people without shelter between daytime and overnight warming centers with assistance from city employees, according to city staff.

The city's health department issued the following recommendations for people in need of alternative heating sources:

-Never use your oven for heat
-Any heater that uses wood, coal, natural gas or kerosene produces carbon monoxide (CO), so adequate ventilation is essential
-Never use a generator indoors, even with open doors or windows
-Use electric space heaters with extreme care, and avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials. Be sure to turn them off before going to bed.
-Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every level of your home, replacing the batteries at least twice a year
-Drink water. Staying hydrated is just as important in the winter as in summer.

For those who have to go outside, city staff recommended wearing multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing, making sure gas tanks are full and cell phones are charged and never idling a car in a garage, even if it is open.

Anyone who experiences symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite — skin stiffness, slurred speech, slow heartbeat, drowsiness, weak pulse or slow or shallow breathing — should seek medical attention, according to the health department.

And to prevent water service lines from freezing, city staff suggested insulating or wrapping heat tape around water pipes, keeping cabinet doors open under sinks and running water at a small trickle.

The Cook County Department of Emergency Management also offers a weekday warming center at 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates. Chicago also offers six warming centers, including the North Area Community Service Center at 845 W. Wilson Ave. in the Uptown neighborhood.

Evanston city staff said the cold weather advisory is set to remain in place through at least Sunday.