Hernando opens temporary warming center as freeze warning persists

Hernando County Emergency Management and the City of Brooksville opened a temporary warming center at the Enrichment Center, 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., the evening of Jan. 15 in response to an active freeze warning. The center is operating overnight for the duration of the freeze event, offering shelter from low temperatures between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. nightly.

Officials stressed the center is a basic shelter for warmth only. Meals and cots are not provided and pets are not permitted, a limitation residents must consider when planning for overnight stays. Transportation to the warming center is available through TheBus; residents seeking assistance were advised to call 352-754-4444.

The activation reflects county and city emergency protocols designed to reduce cold-weather health risks while the freeze warning remains in effect. Local leaders also urged residents to take ordinary winter precautions, reminding them to protect pipes, pets and plants during the cold spell. Those with outdoor plumbing, livestock or sensitive vegetation should consider steps to reduce freeze damage and plan for animal care where pets cannot accompany owners to the center.

The Enrichment Center location provides a central option for Brooksville and surrounding parts of Hernando County, but the limitations on services mean it is not a substitute for full emergency shelter with food and bedding. Social services organizations and neighbors may still play a role in helping people without safe heating alternatives, especially seniors, people with medical conditions, and households with young children.

For residents who rely on public transit or who need a ride to the warming center, TheBus is the county-designated option; the number provided for assistance is 352-754-4444. Officials emphasized the center will remain open only while the freeze warning continues, and operation hours are restricted to overnight periods.

This activation is a short-term public-safety step tied to the current weather event. As the freeze persists, residents should note the center's address and hours, plan for pet care and bedding needs in advance, and use the provided transportation line if they require assistance reaching the facility. County officials will adjust services as conditions change and will close the center once the immediate cold risk has passed.