BUNNELL – Flagler County’s cold weather shelter in Bunnell will be opening this weekend as temperatures drop considerably, the county government announced Wednesday morning. The Sheltering Tree will open up at the Rock Transformation Center, better known by its previous name, Church on the Rock.
Those who are without access to heat, including homeless people, are encouraged to come to The Sheltering Tree to weather out the cold temperatures safely for the two nights the shelter is open. Transportation will be provided by bus at a select number of stops in Flagler County.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will reach down into the high 30’s on December 29th and 30th at night, well below the general guideline of 40 degrees or colder for the county to open the shelter. The Weather Channel lists the lows for each of those two days as 39 in Palm Coast.
“The shelter may open again on New Years Eve, depending on the temperatures that are currently forecast to be 42 degrees,” said Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito. “If the National Weather Service changes its forecast, we will adapt as well. We urge those who lack adequate housing or adequate heat for their residences to come to the cold-weather shelter. The Sheltering Tree and the Rock Transformation Center will provide cots and meals. Flagler County will be providing transportation to the shelter for those who need it.”
The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State Street in Bunnell for those who are able to transport themselves there. For those in need of transportation, a shuttle bus will be operating at the following locations and times:
East Flagler Route:
- Dollar General at Publix Town Center, 3:30 pm – 11 Market Ave, Palm Coast, FL 32164
- McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and SR-100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4:00 pm – 6030 State Rte 100, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
- Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree parking lot, 4:30 pm – 140 Cypress Edge Dr, Palm Coast, FL 32164
- Flagler County Public Library, 4:45 pm – 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, FL 32137
West Flagler Route:
- Dollar General at CR-305 and Canal Ave in Daytona North, 4:00 pm – 1100 Co Rd 305, Bunnell, FL 32110
- Bunnell Free Clinic, 4:30 pm – 703 E Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, FL, 32110
- First United Methodist Church, 4:30 pm – 205 N Pine Street, Bunnell, FL, 32110
The Sheltering Tree can be contacted at (386) 437-3258. The most current information on the weather situation in Flagler County can be accessed by subscribing to ALERTFlagler emergency notifications for free.
Could be worse, it could snow. I can deal with a few days of temps this low. But not dealing with those really cold temps in the teens or 20’s for two weeks straight.