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Central Iowa warming centers offer shelter from extreme cold, winter weather

Warming centers are available across the Des Moines metro under Polk County Emergency Management's extreme weather plan. DART will provide free transportation.

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The biggest winter storm so far this season hit Iowa on Wednesday and has continued through the week bringing dangerous cold and intense winds

With sub-zero temperatures and bitter wind chills falling to the -30s and even low -40s, staying warm and inside is essential for central Iowa residents. 

In Polk County, an extreme weather plan is in effect until further notice. As such, Polk County Emergency Management has identified more than 30 warming centers across the metro.

Central Iowa Shelter and Services told Local 5 it still has plenty of space and will continue to welcome guests in need throughout the holiday weekend and beyond.

"We've identified some people that we were concerned about that maybe wouldn't be able to make that decision to come in," said CISS Director of Street Outreach Deirdre Henriquez. "And we've got them into shelter safely, either shelter or hospital."

While libraries and public buildings may be closed overnight or for holidays, CISS is open overnight and through the holiday season.

CISS also reported their concerns for those with frostbite, preparing to have hand warmers available and provide follow-up care to those in need.

DART will provide transportation to many of the warming centers.  

View the full list below. 

Altoona

  • Altoona Public Library
    • Address: 700 8th St. SW
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Altoona Campus
    • Address: 1500 8th St. SW
    • Hours: Weekdays, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Ankeny

  • Kirkendall Public Library
    • Address: 1250 SW District Dr.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Albaugh Family Senior Community Center
    • Address: 150 NW Ash Dr.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Bondurant

  • Bondurant City Center
    • Address: 200 2nd St. NE 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Bondurant Public Library
    • Address: 104 2nd St. NE 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. 
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Clive

  • Clive Public Library
    • Address: 1900 NW 114th St.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 72/92

Des Moines

Editor's note: All Des Moines libraries will be closed Thursday, Dec. 22 and will not be available as a warming center on the 22nd.

  • Des Moines Central Community Center
    • Address: 2008 Forest Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 5, 14, 60
  • Des Moines Central Library
    • Address: 1000 Grand Ave. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5, 14, 60, D-Line
  • Des Moines Creative Visions
    • Address: 1343 13th St. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 16
  • Des Moines East Side Library
    • Address: 2559 Hubbell Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 17
  • Des Moines Eastside Community Center
    • Address: 1231 E. 26th Street
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 17
  • Des Moines Forest Ave Library
    • Address: 1326 Forest Ave. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 16, 60 
  • Des Moines Four Mile Recreation Center
    • Address: 3711 Easton Blvd. 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 1
  • Des Moines Franklin Ave Library
    • Address: 5000 Franklin Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5
  • Des Moines Wellmark YMCA
    • Address: 501 Grand Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday, 5 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 16
  • Des Moines Northwest Community Center
    • Address: 5110 Franklin Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5
  • Des Moines North Community Center
    • Address: 3010 6th Ave. 
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 15, 4
  • Des Moines North Side Library
    • Address: 3516 5th Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 4, 15
  • Des Moines Norwoodville Senior Center
    • Address: 3077 NE 46th Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Des Moines Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center
    • Address: 2100 SE 5th St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 6
  • Polk County Health Department
    • Address: 1907 Carpenter Ave.
    • Hours: Monday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3, 14, 60
  • Des Moines South Side Library
    • Address: 111 Porter Ave.
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 7
  • Des Moines Southside Community Center
    • Address: 100 Payton Ave.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: Two blocks from line
  • Merle Hay Mall
    • Address: 3850 Merle Hay Road
    • Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5, 14, 16, 91
  • Scott-FourMile Community Recreation Center
    • Address: 3711 Easton Blvd.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A 

Elkhart

  • Elkhart City Hall
    • Address: 260 NW Main St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Johnston

  • Johnston Public Library
    • Address: 6700 Merle Hay Rd. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 5

Mitchellville

  • Mitchellville City Hall
    • Address: 204 Center Ave. N
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A
  • Mitchellville Public Library
    • Address: 205 Center Ave. N
    • Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Pleasant Hill

  • Pleasant Hill City Library
    • Address: 5151 Maple Dr. #2
    • Hours: Monday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: N/A

Urbandale

  • Urbandale Public Library
    • Address: 3520 86th St. 
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 93

West Des Moines

  • West Des Moines Public Library
    • Address: 4000 Mills Civic Parkway
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 96, 52

Windsor Heights

  • Windsor Heights Public Safety Building
    • Address: 1133 66th St.
    • Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    • Dart Bus Route: 3

Stay Weather Aware!


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