Thurston County declares hazardous weather advisory Jan. 24-25 due to extreme cold

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services has issued a hazardous weather advisory to increase shelter-in-place efforts and extend overnight shelter capacity for Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25 due to extreme cold temperatures. 

A National Weather Service (NWS) cold weather advisory is in effect 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 through noon on Saturday, Jan. 24,  for Southwest Washington and much of Oregon, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.  The NWS advisory doesn't stretch doesn't stretch up to Thurston County, but the area is still expected to see overnight lows between 25 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit through the weekend, with possible snow. 

The following will be available this weekend to those in Thurston County who need to get out of the cold: 

• Increased Shelter-in-Place Activities: Olympia Mutual Aid Partners (OlyMap) will increase distribution of survival supplies to individuals and families living outside. 
• Overnight Emergency Shelter at Sergio’s Place: Available for unsheltered adults over age 18. Nightly Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25, starting at 8 p.m. The shelter guest entrance for Sergio’s Place is located at 3444 Martin Way NE. Pets are welcome. Please call 360- 706-2287 for more information.

• Families with children under age 18 and pregnant people: Nightly shelter available at Pear Blossom Place, 837 7th Ave. SE Olympia, 98501. Ring doorbell for entrance.
• Youth and young adults, ages 24 and under: Nightly shelter available at Rosie’s Place, 520 Pear St. SE Olympia, WA 98501. Call to sign up on weekdays starting at 9 a.m. 360-918-7879. Open nightly 9 p.m. to 9a.m.

Other overnight shelter options are available at Union Gospel Mission for single adults and St. Michael’s Parish and Sacred Heart for single men. See the full Thurston County Shelter List. 

For more information on available shelters, contact the Thurston County Shelter Hotline at  1-844-628-7343.

Cold weather donations needed at Sergio’s Place and OlyMap

Interfaith Works is accepting donations on Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. and regularly on Tuesdays-Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sergio’s Place, 3501 Mary Elder Rd NE (Sergio’s Place donation collection entrance). No parking on Martin Way.

Items needed: blankets, twin/single bed sheets, ramen, non-perishable snacks, instant coffee, creamer, sugar, hot tea, hot chocolate, disposable cups and utensils, socks, long johns, underwear, tarps, ponchos, hand warmers, sleeping bags, tents, gloves/mittens, hats, warm clothing.

OlyMap accepts donations Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their office in the basement of First Christian Church 701 Franklin St. Olympia, WA 98501. Drop off donations at the OlyMap office underneath the stairs, below the sanctuary.

Items needed: ramen and cup-of-soups, non-perishable snacks, handwarmers, socks, long johns, underwear, ponchos, hats, gloves/mittens, warm clothing, tarps, blankets, sleeping bags, buddy heaters, and green propane tanks.

To join OlyMap as a volunteer, submit a volunteer application.