The City of Grants Pass has announced that two severe weather event shelters will be opening this winter, if necessary. The city does not operate severe weather event shelters, but it supplies funding to groups that can operate such shelters.
This winter season, two groups will be operating shelters in Grants Pass -- the United Community Action Network (UCAN) and the Mobile Integrated Navigation Team (MINT). Individuals and groups interested in volunteering are encouraged to reach out to those organizations.
UCAN will be operating a warming shelter at 1990 NW Washington Boulevard while MINT will operate a shelter at 218 SW 6th Street. The UCAN shelter will be activating on Saturday, pending weather conditions and volunteer coverage.
In December 2023, the City of Grants Pass issued a standing Severe Weather Event Declaration that is automatically triggered when certain weather conditions are forecast.
In cold weather, the declaration is prompted by low temperatures of 30 degrees or less. Forecasted temperatures at 32 degrees or less will also open the shelters if there are additional factors that would reasonably cause a person to be at increased risk of exposure including precipitation, wind, humidity and dense fog.
In hot weather, the declaration is prompted by a high temperature of 100 degrees or more.
The declaration is also triggered when the Air Quality Index reaches 150 or above, which is considered "Unhealthy."
