Warming center will be open in Licking County

A warming center will open in Newark on Thursday and Friday nights due to anticipated low temperatures.

According to a press release, the Licking County Emergency Warming Center Task Force is opening a warming center for anyone seeking a place to get out of the cold on Thursday and Friday in preparation for extremely cold temperatures.

The warming center is being activated based on weather forecast by the Licking County Emergency Management Agency, with anticipated snow accumulation and wind chill.

According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, a 30% chance of snow is possible after 5 p.m. on Thursday. A low of 14 degrees is expected on Thursday night and a low of 15 degrees expected on Friday night.

The task force's threshold for opening a warming center is 15 degrees, according to the Licking County Health Department, which is a member of the task force.

Both days, the warming center will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 592 W. Main St. in Newark. It will be open 5 p.m. Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday.

Evening meals will be provided by Licking Memorial Hospital culinary services, and breakfast items will also be provided each morning before transportation. On Friday, transportation will be to Vertical 196 and on Saturday, morning will be to the Salvation Army on East Main Street in Newark.

Free transportation is provided to the warming center on Thursday and Friday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. and running in a loop through 9:30 p.m. by stopping at Vertical 196 Hope Center, South Newark Civic Association, Licking County Foundation, Salvation Army, Cherry Valley Bike Trail parking lot, the corner of Baker Boulevard and Log Pond Drive, and downtown Newark library.

For more information, call 211 or text 43055 to 898211.