Frank Kirk stepped out of Fresh County Market on Wednesday, his chin buried in his coat against the 19-degree cold. Kirk, his hands full of grocery bags, said he appreciated the brief reprieve from the recent arctic weather.
“This is like summer vacation compared to what we just went through,” the 59-year-old said with a smile. With temperatures expected to drop later this week, Kirk said he wanted to stock up on food, wary of the impending weather.
“You don’t know when this snow gone hit,” he said. “And I don’t want to be driving through any mess trying to make a grocery run.”
Seeking refuge and relief, Gary parents, students, and shelters alike are shifting gears to grapple with the biting cold, sub-zero wind chills, and freezing temperatures gripping the region.
“Having this type of cold is not uncommon to Gary, Indiana,” meteorologist David King said to Capital B Gary. “It’s not breaking any record, but the people of Gary are definitely going to feel it.”
The National Weather Service predicted snow for Thursday morning and evening, with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Friday holds a 50% chance of snow showers and wind gusts up to 20 mph. Heavy lake-effect snow is anticipated Friday night, especially in Northwest Indiana, near Lake Michigan and Gary’s Miller area.
“We’re really expecting around up to 2 inches in Gary, for the first system arriving tomorrow morning,” King said, adding that Gary could see 2 to 5 inches on Friday morning due to the area’s lake effect.
Looking ahead, King said that Friday night is when the temperatures really start to plummet. The National Weather Service forecasts a low of 6 degrees Friday, and a low of 0 degrees Saturday. According to the National Weather Service, the wind chill is expected to drop to negative degrees on Friday and Saturday, reaching its nadir at -14 degrees.
The city of Gary released an updated list of warming centers throughout the city, where people can come in and take shelter from the cold for a few hours when the temperature is 32 degrees or below.
One of them, Brother’s Keeper, a men’s shelter in Gary, offers a warming shelter from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Isaac Mootye, the shelter’s executive director, said he keeps the warehouse at 70 degrees and provides access to a food pantry to greet and assist anyone coming in.
“We’ve always been willing to share what we have,” Mootye said. “We always want to share our resources with the community.”
A little further down the road, Dwight Pointer, manager of the Calumet Multi-Purpose Center, is also offering meals Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “Come on through, we are up and we are ready!” he said.
Gary city officials and schools have responded to the recent arctic blast. Gary Community School Corporation closed its buildings on Jan. 16 due to the extreme cold, but continued e-learning from home. Schools reopened on Wednesday, January 17, but had a delayed start.
In a Facebook announcement, the district advised parents and students: “Given the extended closure, some areas of the buildings may be cooler in the morning. Please dress warmly!”
“I have a senior, and they have been out of school since Friday,” said Precious Thymes, a Gary parent. “The days she has been home have been challenging, just because my daily tasks have been compromised a little. … However, I do enjoy her being home and actually seeing her complete her e-assignments.”
Nemia Kuykendall, a Gary mom, said she is glad the school district is prioritizing student safety during the severe cold weather.
“I’m glad they have taken precautions with our children as far as being safe with inclement weather,” she said. “But I do wish we were able to have options to continue their education on days like this.”
With the arctic cold expected to persist, residents are encouraged to stay indoors, as freezing conditions and wind chills can cause frostbite in as little as 15 minutes. For those braving the cold, the weather service recommends wearing multiple layers of loose-fitting clothing, a water-resistant coat and boots, a scarf, gloves, and a hat.
If transportation is needed, Gary residents can board any Gary Public Transportation bus or van using the “Code 32.” The bus operator will make every effort to stop as close to a warming center location as possible. For city of Gary services, call (219) 881-1311 or visit www.gary.gov for a link to the Gary 311 mobile app.