DeKalb County will open several warming centers from Sunday, December 14 through Tuesday, December 16, in response to forecasted freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills. The centers will begin operations at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.
The following locations will be available for those seeking shelter: Frontline Response International at 2585 Gresham Rd SE in Atlanta, St. Vincent de Paul at 2050-C Chamblee Tucker Rd in Chamblee, and Exchange Park Intergenerational Center at 2771 Columbia Dr in Decatur. The Mason Mill Recreation Center will not be open during this activation period.
To support the early opening time on Sunday, DeKalb County has adjusted its transportation services. All routes originate from Frontline Response Headquarters and initial pickups are scheduled for as early as 5:00 a.m., reversing the standard evening schedule to accommodate the earlier center opening. This revised transportation schedule applies only to Sunday morning; regular evening pickup schedules resume on Monday night.
Frontline Response International is contracted by DeKalb County to provide assistance during extreme weather conditions. “Frontline Response International will provide 24-hour operations during the Sunday activation, including hot meals, cots, transportation, and case management services,” according to the county’s announcement. Individuals may arrive directly at Frontline HQ beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday for assistance with warming center placement and additional services.
For walk-in access or coordination assistance, individuals can go directly to Frontline Response Headquarters or contact their dispatch line.
Additional information about warming centers and community partner offerings can be found at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather.
Recent data shows that enrollment in DeKalb County schools dropped by 2.2% during the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). In total, DeKalb County schools enrolled 98,287 students in that period (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students made up approximately 14% of the student body during that school year (https://www.gadoe.org/).
