WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — With extreme winter weather expected this week, the Wilson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is opening an emergency shelter for the first time at the Wilson County Fairgrounds.
This task requires involvement from the whole community.
“We are at the Wilson County Fairgrounds and setting up our emergency warming shelter,” said Maegan Eldridge, administrative assistant and public information officer for Wilson County EMA
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, a few dozen cots were assembled. It’s the first time Wilson County EMA has opened up an extreme weather emergency shelter at the fairgrounds.
“We have our partners, Compassionate Hands, but they get overrun a lot, so we are trying to help them out and make this something we are hopefully able to do for all extreme weather in the future,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge said emergency officials are stepping in to help as the county continues to grow in more ways than one.
“We have a pretty good size community of those in need, so doing these pop up temporary shelters is hopefully going to set a new standard for the county,” Eldridge said.
According to Eldridge, the shelter can take up to 40 people, including families and pets.
“We’ve got kennels, blankets, dog bowls, and all that for them, as well; a section for men and women and a section for families,” Eldridge said.
From nonprofits to community members, she said many are donating food, pillows, blankets, and money.
“Your local caterers, the sheriff’s department, EMA, the hospital, and it’s so much and we are so thankful we are able to pull this together and do this,” Eldridge said.
Not only are emergency officials providing a warm place to stay, but they’re also offering a safe space amid preparations for the extreme winter weather.
“We are hoping that during these extreme temperatures, the ice, the snow, I’m sure they will be extremely grateful just to be out of the weather,” Eldridge said.
Wilson County EMA is providing transportation to the shelter. For more information, call Eldridge at 615-489-9129 or Tamara Felts at 615-489-2796.
The shelter opens Wednesday at 5 p.m. and closes on Sunday, Jan. 12. If you’re interested in volunteering, click here.
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