Arkansas Cities Open Emergency Shelters as Coldest Temperatures of Season Arrive

Extreme Cold Grips Natural State

Arkansas is bracing for its coldest temperatures of the season as the coldest temperatures of the season anticipated Sunday morning . Multiple cities across the state activated emergency cold weather protocols on Saturday, opening warming centers and overnight shelters to protect vulnerable residents from dangerous wind chills and freezing conditions.

Little Rock and North Little Rock will be opening their overnight cold weather shelters Saturday night ahead of expected extreme cold . The Little Rock shelter, located at the Dunbar Community Center, 1001 W. 16th St, will open to the public at 8 p.m and will not require identification . The North Little Rock shelter, at the North Little Rock Community Center at 2700 N. Willow St. will open at 6 p.m. Pets will be allowed in both shelters and neither one will require identification .

Collaborative Response Across Communities

With low temperatures this weekend, the city of Fayetteville is activating its cold weather response to protect unhoused individuals . The Collaborative Response for Extreme Weather (CREW) network provides expanded overnight and daytime shelter options when the forecast "feels like" 15 degrees or lower . The CREW team includes 7hills Homeless Center, Salvation Army in Northwest Arkansas, Genesis Church has been a really great partner as well, and then also the Northwest Arkansas Continuum of Care .

These organizations, along with Potter's House, provide overnight shelter, showers, warm meals, dry clothing, and other resources, including accommodations for people with pets . Making sure we're stocked up on blankets or cots, purchasing new kennels if those need to be replaced, so that way, folks don't feel like they have to make a choice between getting shelter and having their animal with them , explained Fayetteville Chief Housing Officer Marlee Stark.

Life-Threatening Conditions Prompt Action

Emergency management officials emphasize the serious nature of this cold snap. Patrick Connelly, the Northwest Arkansas Area Commander for the Salvation Army, explained that their inclement weather protocols are activated when the "feels like" temperature drops below 30 to 32 degrees . Well now if you have to multiply that short amount of time that you spend there by 24 hours, those are our unhoused neighbors that are experiencing those conditions .

Overnight Lows tonight through Saturday morning are expected to fall into the low 20s to low 30s statewide . Saturday afternoon highs will be suppressed by the much colder air in place across the state behind the cold front that moved through. Temperatures on Saturday are only expected to peak between the mid 30s to upper 40s across the state .

Ongoing Support and Resources

Many shelters, like the Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas, open as the "feels like" temperature falls to 32 degrees or below for more than an hour . Others, like Genesis, Potter's House, and 7Hills Homeless Shelter, provide warming options when the forecast shows "feels like" temperature is 15 degrees or lower . In addition to the overnight emergency shelter, Little Rock's community centers serve as warming centers during daytime operating hours .

As Arkansas faces this significant weather challenge, the coordinated response demonstrates how communities can mobilize quickly to protect their most vulnerable residents. City of Little Rock officials will continue to actively monitor weather forecasts to determine whether to mobilize the shelter for additional nights during this period of colder-than-normal weather . The collaborative efforts between government agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations showcase a model that other communities can adapt when extreme weather threatens public safety.