With the extreme cold temperatures and power outages residents may be experiencing in the local area, Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency Director Diana Holmes is informing local residents that her agency, along with the County Health Department and Sheriff’s 911 services, has set up a “Warming Center Location Hotline” policy to provide local heated facilities for those residents in need.

This policy designates a specific “County Warming Center” hotline number, which is 1-877-532-9911.  Callers will be asked to provide their location information with the hotline operator, after which that area’s Warming Center representative will be contacted to be open for this service.  Many Montgomery County communities have provided Director Holmes with heated facilities in their area where the public may go if they need immediate access.  Access to these buildings, mostly churches and service organization meeting halls, is allowed on an “as-needed” basis, so that these buildings are not opened and staffed during the power outage period and not utilized, which would not be economically feasible.   As a result of this policy, County Emergency Services will open the Warming Center facilities only when needed by specific callers to the “County Warming Center” hotline number.

Anyone with questions about this policy may contact Director Holmes at the Emergency Management Agency Office at (217) 532-9560.