Washougal severe weather shelter to open New Year’s Eve

Organizers of a severe weather overnight shelter in Washougal will open the temporary accomodations on New Year’s Eve.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a low of 29 degrees on New Year’s Eve, in the Camas-Washougal area.

The severe weather shelter will open at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31, in the Washougal Community Center, 1681 “C” St., next to City Hall, in downtown Washougal. Guests will be expected to leave by 7 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1.

The city of Washougal, in partnership with ReFuel Washougal, is expected to open the severe weather shelter when the temperatures drop below 30 degrees or there is snow or ice in the forecast and there are enough trained volunteers to staff the shelter overnight.

Robert Barber, chair of ReFuel Washougal and lead pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, in Washougal, said donations of twin size, medium weight blankets, as well as socks, gloves, scarves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, deodorant and feminine hygiene products for the severe weather shelter, can be dropped off in the Washougal City Hall lobby, 1701 “C” St., Washougal, and the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce office, 422 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas.

For information about volunteer opportunities at the shelter, email Barber at [email protected].