The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with St. Benedict’s and the Daniel Pitino shelter to help protect the area’s homeless population, providing “cold weather packs” during the upcoming stretch of bitterly cold temperatures.
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement saying an extended “arctic cold snap” will keep temperatures below freezing for most of the next week — including lows in the single digits with potential negative wind chills. The NWS said such a long period below freezing “only occurs about 3 to 4 times every 30 to 40 years in this region.”
Sheriff Brad Youngman said that as DCSO deputies are patrolling during the next few days, they will stop and check on any homeless person they observe and give them one of the cold weather packs, which were donated by the shelters and contain a blanket, gloves, hat, socks, hand warmers, and bottled water. Youngman said DCSO will also offer additional assistance.
“We are honored to partner with Harry Pedigo and the shelters to better serve such a vulnerable population — especially with the arrival of such extremely cold weather,” Youngman said. “Our deputies will check on people they find outdoors and offer them a ride to a shelter and give them one of these packs to assist them.”
Each DCSO patrol unit will be given two packs initially, with more available should they be needed. Youngman said homeless individuals will not be required to accept the packs, nor will they be required to accompany the deputy to a shelter.
“But, with the dangerously cold forecasted temperatures during the next few days, anyone outside for even a few minutes could begin to suffer from frostbite and other cold weather injuries,” Youngman said.
Harry Pedigo, executive director of both shelters, said: “We are always thinking about how we can better serve those experiencing homelessness, and even more how we can better serve our community. This is a great way to ensure our first responders are equipped to help those they encounter who are in need. It’s what we do.”
If you are aware of anyone living outdoors or in a home without adequate heat and in need of a welfare check, contact DCSO at 270-685-8444 or Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch at 270-687-8888. For more information on shelters, call 270-688-9000 for the Pitino Shelter, or 270-541-1003 for St. Benedict’s.
