Shelters will open across Coast for cold weather

As cold temperatures are expected around South Mississippi on Sunday and Monday, area shelters are gearing up for the cold snap.

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures to drop into the mid-30s on Sunday and Monday nights and the Salvation Army and Harrison County will be providing cold-weather shelter for those two days.

"We are ready and equipped to take care of those who are in search of shelter when the temperature drops below 40 degrees," Salvation Army Area Commander Maj. Gary Sturdivant said.

The Salvation Army will offer two shelters, one in Gulfport and one in Pascagoula. The Gulfport shelter is at 2019 22nd St. It will open at 4 p.m. and close at 8 a.m.

"We will have snacks and coffee when we open," public relations director Morgan Shiyou said. "At 6 p.m., dinner will be served. We try to provide some sort of entertainment and there are books for reading, restrooms and breakfast will be served in the morning.

"The Salvation Army Cold Weather Shelter is completely run by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer please call us at 207-2303."

The Pascagoula shelter is at 317 Nathan Hale Ave.

"The Pascagoula shelter is open 365 days a year," Shiyou said. "However, they will allow people to spend the night there if the temperature drops below 40 degrees."

Shiyou said those wishing to use the shelters will need to fill out a registration form upon arrival.

"The Salvation Army Cold Weather shelters are open to anyone in need," she said. "However, they must complete a registration form and pass a breath-analysis test."

Harrison County will be opening a shelter Sunday at the Kenny Fournier Multi-Purpose Center in D'Iberville. The shelter will open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 7 a.m. the following day.

"We will provide a meal at 4:30 p.m.," Sara Miller of Harrison County said. "We will have cots and blankets but we do not have a showers at the facility. But we will have a warm place for people to sleep that need to get out of the cold."

For more information on the Salvation Army shelters, call 207-2303 or visit the website at salvationarmyalm.org/msgulfcoast.

This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Shelters will open across Coast for cold weather ."