Cold weather shelters opening in Bremerton and Poulsbo

The opening of the three shelters, one serving teens and disabled adults only, are part of the county's Department of Emergency Management's shelter plan for severe weather.

With temperatures expected to drop Monday and Tuesday night, shelters in Bremerton and Poulsbo are opening for people who would otherwise be sleeping outdoors.

The opening of the three shelters, one serving teens and disabled adults only, are part of the county’s Department of Emergency Management’s shelter plan for severe weather.

Monday night will be the colder of the two, said Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.

The Bremerton area should see a low of 31 degrees, with inland areas slightly lower.

“Tonight’s going to be the cold night,” Burg said.

Tuesday night should see warmer temperatures in the 30s and 40s, he said.

The rain is expected to last through the week and become scattered showers this weekend. However, Burg said temperatures on Saturday and Sunday should rise to the 50s.

Bremerton and Silverdale are grouped together for the service’s forecasts, but Seabeck and other Hood Canal communities should see slightly colder temperatures.

“It might be just a little bit cooler up along the Hood Canal, but other than that, not much difference,” Burg said.

The shelters have been activated once since the new year, said Jim Stowers, housing and homeless services manager for Kitsap Community Resources.

“We’ve had a pretty warm winter,” he said. “Compared to last year it’s been pretty quiet.”

Bed space at the shelters has not been scarce, he said, noting that the more nights the shelters are open, the more people they attract.

“As more people learn about it, the more people come,” he said.

The severe weather shelters will open at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

The shelters will stay open until 7 a.m. and will not admit anyone after 9 p.m.

Teens and adults unable to climb stairs are welcome at The Coffee Oasis, 822 Burwell St., Bremerton. Adults from Bremerton, South Kitsap and Central Kitsap can go to the Communitas Building, 920 Park Ave., Bremerton.

Poulsbo and North Kitsap residents can go to First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Avenue NE, Poulsbo.

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