Little Rock, Arkansas – As central Arkansas braces for an arctic blast this weekend, city officials are urging residents to take advantage of warming centers opening across the region. The extreme cold has prompted multiple communities to provide safe spaces for those in need, ensuring that anyone vulnerable to the dropping temperatures has access to heat, shelter, and essential supplies.
In Little Rock, the Little Rock Compassion Center at 3618 W. Roosevelt Road is now open as a warming facility. As an overnight shelter, the center has expanded its capacity with additional beds for visitors. Residents seeking refuge from the cold can also access coats, scarves, hats, and gloves, helping them stay warm while temperatures hover below freezing. “Anytime temperatures drop below 42 degrees, the warming center is open,” city officials said, emphasizing the continuous availability for those who need it most.
Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, the Dunbar Community Center, located at 1001 W. 16th Street, will operate as a 24-hour emergency shelter. The center welcomes residents to stay overnight without requiring identification and allows pets to be accommodated in kennels provided by the Little Rock Animal Village, offering peace of mind to pet owners who may otherwise hesitate to seek shelter.
North Little Rock is also taking steps to protect residents from the cold, opening its warming center at the North Little Rock Community Center on Willow Street beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. The center will remain available until further notice, ensuring that anyone caught off guard by the sudden temperature drop has a safe and warm location to go.
Conway has opened multiple warming centers to support residents during the winter storm. The Don Owen Sports Center and the McGee Center will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with check-in beginning at 7 p.m. for those planning to stay overnight. City officials noted that pets are not allowed at these facilities, but they provide a crucial lifeline for adults and families in need of warmth. Additionally, the Conway Emergency Center on Gum Street is open to adults 18 and older, with check-in starting at 4:30 p.m. overnight. Officials stressed that accommodations are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Saline County is responding to the cold snap with a warming center at Northside Church of Christ, 917 N. East Street in Benton. The center opened Friday evening at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to remain available until Monday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., giving residents several days of protection from the dangerous winter conditions.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management has also created an online portal to help residents find warming centers, food distribution sites, and other emergency resources during the storm. With temperatures expected to remain dangerously low, officials encourage anyone in need to use these resources rather than risk exposure to the cold.
As the winter storm continues to affect roads and daily life, the coordinated efforts across Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, and Saline County demonstrate the region’s commitment to public safety. Residents are urged to stay informed, check for updates, and make use of the warming centers available throughout central Arkansas.
With the extreme cold forecasted to persist, these shelters provide a critical lifeline for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, families with children, and those experiencing homelessness. City and county officials continue to monitor conditions and ensure that help is available whenever temperatures drop to dangerous levels.
