Staying safe as frigid cold hits Mid-Missouri
Jazsmin Halliburton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
With extreme cold temperatures across Mid-Missouri on Thursday morning, warming centers will be available, as there is potential risk of hypothermia.
Thursday is an ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day, as arctic air and light winds combine to create wind chills near zero. Highs reach the low 20s under partly cloudy skies.
Hypothermia can happen in frigid temperatures; however, it can also occur during cool temperatures above 40 degrees. There are multiple warning signs that you may be suffering from hypothermia, such as:
Shivering
Exhaustion
Confusion
Fumbling hands
Memory loss
Slurred speech
Drowsiness
If someone is experiencing the symptoms, it is important to immediately get to a warm place, cover them with extra blankets and seek medical help as soon as possible.
There are several warming centers throughout Mid-Missouri where people can go to get away from the frigid cold temperatures.
Warming centers available in Columbia include:
Columbia Public Library
City Hall
The Salvation Army Harbor House on North Ann Street
Salvation Army on West Ash Street
The Arc
Columbia Boone County Health Department
Jefferson City options include:
The Salvation Army on Jefferson Street
Clark Senior Center
The Missouri Regional Library
Other warming center locations across Missouri can be found here.