Frigid temperatures have forced Metro Nashville to open an overflow emergency shelter.
The shelter opened at Hadley Park at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and will close Thursday morning at 8. There's also a mobile pet warming station available.
This is all part of Nashville's Cold Weather Community Response Plan, which in effect through the end of March.
It's currently at Level 3 – meaning critical weather – and is activated when it gets to be 19 degrees or below. Level 2 is 25 or below and Level 1 is 32 or below. It only reached Level 2 status 10 days last winter.
Temperatures at Level 3 are in the forecast for the next seven days.
There were also street outreach teams out overnight, canvassing streets to make sure those who chose to sleep outside knew of their options.
"We go out and check on folks who are out, you can see walking," said MNPD Commander Gordon Howey. "Particularly at night, when it's 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, it's really cold. We've got homeless folks who are in camps, or on sidewalks or on benches and so, we'll go and check on them, make sure they're okay."
Besides the police, Nashville Rescue Mission and Open Table Nashville are also doing Cold Patrol.
Metro officers began investigating a possible weather-related death overnight when a man was found dead in a parking lot.
Shirtless man found dead in midtown parking lot in dangerously cold temps... autopsy will determine if indeed caused by the weather. Stay safe. The overflow shelter is open until 8 @NC5pic.twitter.com/gmCCgrnJeC
— Dan Kennedy (@NC5_DanKennedy) December 27, 2017
In Clarksville, the New Providence United Methodist Church plans to stay open as long as temperatures remain so low. Clothing and food will be provided at the shelter. Donations are always accepted.
Back here in Nashville, an announcement will be made at 9 a.m. on whether the shelter will reopen again overnight.
