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Warming shelters open to help those in need

A winter storm is bringing high winds, snow and frigid temperatures to WNY.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — As the winter storm brings blizzard conditions and cold temperatures, some locations are opening.

Daytime Warming Centers open Friday:

  • 586 Genesee St. in Buffalo., open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • (Currently without power) Lincoln Community Center located at 10 Quincy Street in Buffalo, is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • (Currently without power) Hennepin Community Center located at 24 Ludington Street in Buffalo is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 
  • St Luke's Missionary Church is open at 325 Walden Ave.
  • Rural Outreach Center at 7207 Hunters Creek Road Lot 15 in Holland, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • First Methodist Church located at 207 Grove Street in the City of Tonawanda
  • Silver Creek High School at 1 Dickinson St. in Silver Creek, N.Y. will be open for an emergency shelter for those living along the shoreline in Chautauqua County that had to evacuate. 
  • Lake Erie Beach Volunteer Fire Hall, which is located at 9483 Lake Shore Rd. in Angola. It is open to residents along the shoreline that had to evacuate. 
  • Highland Hose Volunteer Fire Hall, located at 1 George Nablo Pkwy in Derby is also open to residents along the shoreline that had to evacuate.  
  • Hoover elementary and middle schools in the Town of Tonawanda, which are accessible off Sheridan Dr. People are asked to enter through door 20 in the back of the building.
  • Sheridan Park at 738 Sheridan Dr., Town of Tonawanda
  • Brighton at 50 Jamaica Rd., Town of Tonawanda
  •  Kenilworth at 84 Hawthorne Ave., Town of Tonawanda

“We are grateful to our volunteer firefighters, the Ken-Ton School District, and our Community Emergency Response Team volunteers for stepping up and making these warming shelters available, especially at Christmas when they would normally be with their families,” said Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joseph Emminger. 

“I advise people to use extreme caution during the storm, make good decisions, and rely on the warming centers if need be.” 

Erie County also released a list of shelters.  You can find them here:

Niagara County has a list of warming center locations as well.  Despite a travel ban, they say if you are in need of shelter, you can safely make your way to a nearby shelter.  If you are able to make it to one of the shelters, you can contact the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division at 716-438-3394 and they will assist in getting you to a shelter. 

  • Cambria Fire Company 4631 Cambria Wilson Road, Lockport
  • Frontier Fire Company 2176 Liberty Drive, Niagara Falls
  • Hartland Fire Company 8945 Ridge Road, Gasport
  • Lewiston #2 Fire Company 1705 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston
  • Miller Hose Fire Company 6161 McKee Street, Newfane
  • Olcott Fire Company 1691 Lockport Street, Olcott
  • Pekin Fire Company 3024 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn
  • Ransomville Fire Company 2521 Youngstown-Lockport Road, Ransomville
  • Rapids Fire Company- Main Hall 7195 Plank Road, Lockport
  • St. Johnsburg Fire Company 7165 Ward Road, Wheatfield
  • Sanborn Fire Company 5811 Buffalo Street, Lewiston
  • Shawnee Fire Company 3747 Lockport Road, Sanborn
  • South Wilson Fire Company 4194 Chestnut Road, Wilson
  • Terry's Corners Fire Company 7801 Chestnut Ridge Road, Gasport
  • Upper Mountain Fire Company 839 Moyer Road, Lewiston
  • Wendleville Fire Company Hall One 7340 Campbell Blvd, Pendleton
  • Wendleville Fire Company Hall Two 6440 Main Road, Pendleton
  • Wilson Fire Company 250 Young Street, Wilson
  • Wolcottsville Fire Company 6337 Wolcottsville Road, Royalton
  • Wrights Corners Fire Company- Main Hall 4043 Lake Avenue, Lockport
  • Youngstown Fire Company 625 Third Street, Youngstown

City of Lockport

  • Lockport City Hall One Locks Plaza, Lockport

City of Niagara Falls

  • Community Missions 1570 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls
  • Niagara Gospel Mission 1317 Portage Road, Niagara Falls

The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a Blizzard Warning for Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Chautauqua, and Genesee counties. This watch is for 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday.   

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Wyoming and Cattaraugus counties. This watch is for 7 a.m. Friday through 1 a.m. Monday.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Allegany County starting 10 a.m. Friday and lasting until 7 p.m. Sunday.

Heavy snow, whiteout conditions, strong wind gusts, a flash freeze, lakeshore flooding, and dangerous wind chills are all potential threats. These leading to impacts of difficult to impossible road travel, cancellations at the Buffalo Airport, and power outages. 

For more Storm Team 2 coverage:

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