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WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – As winter gets more intense, temperatures in Wausau are expected to possibly plummet below zero this weekend. The Portage County Sheriff’s Office is sharing tips to help residents stay safe during the two-day cold front.
“Make sure you have your outside hoses unhooked and your water so your pipes don’t freeze,” said Sheriff Mike Lukas of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. “Have an emergency kit at home, have something prepared so that you’re able to get through these couple of days. Don’t forget about your critters during the cold temps either. They are just as susceptible to the temperatures as we are,” Lukas said.
The sheriff advises residents to avoid the frigid temperatures entirely. Meanwhile, the Wausau Police Department’s temporary shelter, W-M-C, was due to close at the end of the year. However, Bridge Street Mission is stepping up to take over the shelter to support those in need.
“Yea just being a safe place, and then our staff and volunteers are really good about getting to know the people, listening to their stories, and often we are able to intervene in their situations, and help to direct them to resources that can change their circumstances,” said Craig Vincent, executive director of Bridge Street Mission.
Bridge Street Mission is constructing an emergency shelter and expects to complete it by April of next year. “It’s motivated by our faith, we are a faith-based organization and part of our call is to care for people and to love people. That’s really the motivation of most of my staff and volunteers,” Vincent said.
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