Alexander County will close the emergency shelter established to assist during Winter Storm Fern at 1:00 p.m. on today !
Since opening on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at Alexander Central High School, the shelter has experienced low demand, serving a total of six people. Three individuals remained at the shelter as of Monday at 9:00 a.m., and county staff have confirmed each has a safe, warm place to go. In addition, there are no power outages reported in Alexander County. If conditions change or a need arises, the County can reopen the emergency shelter.
Throughout shelter operations, Alexander County staff from Social Services, Public Health, the PORT Community Paramedic program, the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Emergency Management worked directly with shelter clients to develop individualized plans and support their transition to safe, longer-term arrangements. Resources provided included assistance with heating, food, and transportation.
A warming station will remain available in the lobby of the Alexander County Detention Center for individuals who need a brief place to warm up. This warming station is intended for short-term warming only and is not an overnight shelter.
With the shelter closing, the emergency shelter hotline (828-352-7844) will also be discontinued effective 1:00 p.m. Residents should call 911 only in the event of an emergency. For non-emergency calls, contact the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 632-2911.