As a wave of freezing temperatures impacts parishes across the state, the American Red Cross of Louisiana is mobilizing to support local partner agencies and municipal warming centers. To ensure that residents seeking refuge from the cold have a safe and comfortable place to stay, the Red Cross is providing essential shelter supplies, including cots and blankets, to various community-led locations. 

“Our priority is to ensure that no one is left out in the cold,” said Kenneth St. Charles, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Louisiana Region. “By providing these supplies to our local partners, we are helping to ensure that the warming centers across Louisiana are equipped to handle the increased need as temperatures drop.” 

How to Find Assistance

Residents in need of a warm place to stay should first check with their local parish government or office of emergency preparedness for the nearest warming center. 

• Find a Shelter: Visit redcross.org/shelter or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search "American Red Cross" in app stores). 

• Assistance: If you need Red Cross assistance, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

• Louisiana shelter locations open at the time of publication. We encourage you to call 211 to confirm: 

Bunkie 
Bunkie City Hall Annex 
109 West Oak St. 

Lacomb 
Giving Hope Retreat Campus 
31294 US-190 (2nd Building) 

Lafayette 
Dupuis Center 
1212 E Pont des Mouton Rd. 

Lake Charles 
Salvation Army  
3020 Legion St. 
 
Monroe 
Liller Maddox Marbles Community Center  
2950 Renwick St. 
 
Monroe 
Salvation Army 
105 Hart Street 

Shreveport 
Holy Missions 
1054 Texas Ave. 

Shreveport 
Hope Connections 
2350 Levy Street{{ }}

Shreveport  
Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission 
901 McNeil Street 

Call 211 for shelter locations: Warming centers and overnight shelters are available across Louisiana as cold temperatures impact the region. Residents in need of a safe, warm place are encouraged to call or text 211, or visit 211la.org to find locations and hours in your area. 

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY Over the next few days, cold weather will impact parts of Louisiana. Here are a few tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe: 

Wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth. 

If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard, and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. 

Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace. 

Carry an emergency preparedness kit in your car. Be sure to include items like food, warm clothing and blankets, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, a small sack of sand to generate traction under tires and a red or brightly colored cloth to tie to the antenna in case you are stranded. 

Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with diabetes, and children. 

RED CROSS APPS Download the free Red Cross First Aid app, so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.