Warming Centers, Safe Shoveling, Cold Weather Tips In Will County

WILL COUNTY, IL — A winter storm warning is in effect through Saturday, with 3 to 9 inches of snow in the forecast depending on where you live. Temperatures could also plummet, so it's important to know where to go should your power go out or you find yourself without heat.

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Warming centers are available throughout Will County. Here are just a few (find the full list here, but be sure to call ahead before you go).

• Catholic Charities - Daybreak Center, 611 E. Cass St., Joliet - 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; call 815-774-4660
• Bolingbrook Fire Station #5, 1900 Rodeo Dr. - 24/7 hours; call ahead at 630-226-8505
• Bolingbrook Fire Station #4, 1111 W. Boughton Road - 24/7 hours; call ahead at 630-226-8670
• New Lenox Police Department, 200 Veterans Parkway - by request only; call 815-468-6128
• New Lenox Police Department, 120 Veterans Parkway - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday; call 815-485-2605 x 101
• Plainfield Police Department, 14300 S. Coil Plus Drive - by request only; call 815-436-2341
• Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 West Romeo Road - open 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Romeoville Fire Station No. 3, 698 Birch Drive. - open after 9:30 p.m.
• MorningStar Mission 350 E. Washington St., Joliet - open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 815-722-5780
• White Oak Library District - Romeoville Branch, 201 W. Normantown Road - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 815-552-4225
• Troy Township Community Center, 25448 W Seil Road - by request only; call 815-922-4401
• Shorewood Village Hall, 1 Towne Center Boulevard - 24/7; call 815-725-4696
• Shorewood Police Department, 903 W. Jefferson St. - 24/7; 815-725-4636

Shovel safely

The risk of heart attack is higher when shoveling heavy snow. The Village of Plainfield offers these safety tips:

• Dress in layers
• Take frequent breaks
• Use smaller shovel
• Avoid large meals before/after
• HYDRATE (water/juice...NOT ALCOHOL)
• Check on your family/neighbors while they shovel
• Shovel driveway aprons only after the roadway is completely cleared. This will eliminate the need to shovel them more than once.

Be a good neighbor

Be sure to check in on your elderly neighbors or those who made need assistance. For those who aren't able to shovel, consider helping out by clearing their driveway or sidewalks.

Clear hydrants

Area fire departments ask residents and businesses to help clear hydrants of ice and snow.

"If a hydrant is lost or buried in snow, firefighters can lose valuable time trying to locate it when they first arrive at a fire," the Village of Romeoville notes. A three-foot radius is best when you're clearing hydrants.

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