KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville warming centers served a record number of people Tuesday night after a winter storm brought several inches of snow to the area and plummeted temperatures dangerously low. Some were planning to continue serving people Wednesday and Thursday night, as cold weather persisted in the area.
The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability said warming centers served around 228 people Tuesday night — some of whom did not have any other safe place to stay.
"We're tired. We're not sleeping much. We couldn't tell you what day of the week it is, but we're here for the long haul," said Anthony Jackson, who helped set up and run a warming center at Vestal United Methodist Church. "We've opened up the second floor. We're doing everything we can to make sure that we have space for people that need space."
That warming center in particular served around 60 people Tuesday night, and The Salvation Army offered a gym to house an overflow of people.
"We have had people that come in and have popsicles on their beards, or they're just frozen. They're cold," said Jackson. "Knowing that the community has our back, while we have their back, is just such a peaceful thing to have."
Staying outside during dangerously low temperatures can cause severe health effects, some possibly leading to death. The body effectively uses up all its energy to stay warm, and when it runs out, a person can start experiencing hypothermia causing unclear thinking, inhibiting body movement, and frostbite damaging the skin.
"They are exhausted, and they're hurting. They're scared. They come in and their fingers are black, sometimes, or swollen because they're so cold," said Major Cam Henderson, area commander of Salvation Army Knoxville. "You see them covering themselves with blankets and sleeping, and you just kind of go in your own self. You say, 'This is peace.'"
Volunteers said they plan to stay at warming centers throughout the week, as another round of wintry weather is expected to move in on Thursday.
"I can't imagine being out here all the time, 24/7, without some type of relief. And, the fact that we're able to provide relief on a third day, and we'll do it again on a fourth day, we'll do it on the fifth day, is just because they're human beings first," said Jackson.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help warming centers in Knoxville can call 211 for more information.