Cold-weather shelters opening in Sarasota, Manatee

With temperatures expected to dip into the mid-40s overnight, Sarasota and Manatee counties are opening cold-weather shelters Tuesday night for those in need.

In Sarasota County, two shelter locations will be available:

• Salvation Army, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at 1400 10th St.
• 100 Church, beginning at 5 p.m. at 14525 Tamiami Trail, North Port

Dinner, snacks, and Wednesday breakfast will be provided by All Faiths Food Bank. Those attending should bring their own sleeping materials. 

The Salvation Army is a 0.2-mile walk from the Breeze bus stop on Orange Avenue @ 10th St (Route 7), or a 0.3 mile walk from the Breeze bus stop on Cocoanut Avenue and 9th Street (Routes 2 and 99).

In North Port, Breeze Route 9 serves stops on Tamiami Trail at Espanola Avenue/Almonte Terrace, a 0.1-mile walk to 100 Church. 

In Manatee County, the Salvation Army will open its cold-weather shelter space at 6 p.m. at 1204 14th St. W., Bradenton. There will be space for an additional 50 people.

The National Weather Service is predicting an overnight low of 46 degrees in Sarasota and 43 degrees in Bradenton. 

Emergency Management officials remind residents that pets should not be left outside during the cold weather. 

Those who need to be outside overnight or during the early morning hours are encouraged to dress in several warm layers and limit skin exposure to the wind.

Sarasota County Fire Department officials advise using extreme caution when heating your home, as the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases during very cold weather due to the improper use of heating devices. More heating safety tips can be found NFPA.org.