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The White Flag is Currently Up

What Does the White Flag Mean?

When temperatures drop to dangerously cold levels, a “White Flag” is issued to signal that local shelters will relax their normal rules and open extra space so no one has to stay outside in extreme weather. It’s an emergency cold-weather sheltering alert meant to protect people from freezing conditions.​​​

Everyday at 11 AM we will check the weather at this website: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-85.904&lat=38.964

 

We raise the White Flag:

  • If the nighttime low for tonight is 20 degrees or below

  • If the nighttime low for tonight is 25 degrees or below AND the precipitation percentage is 40% or more

  • If the nighttime low for tonight is 25 degrees or below AND the sustained windspeed (not gusts) is above 15 mph.

 

If the nighttime low does not meet the above criteria at 11 AM, the White Flag will be down for that night.

When the White Flag is raised, the following will apply:

 

  • Guests will be permitted to stay at the shelter, even if they do not follow the rules of our shelter program, except for severe offenses.  (We reserve the right to exit any guest for any reason if we determine that it is in the best interests of our current guests and shelter operations.)

  • We will intake into the shelter some individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for our program.  We are still not able to house registered sex offenders or pets.

  • We will evaluate someone for intake at any time of the day or night.  Please call the shelter first at 812-271-1496.

 

Pets

This year we've partnered with First United Methodist Church of Seymour to try to provide an option for housing pets while a guest is staying at the Anchor House during a White Flag night.  Please first call the Anchor House for an assessment of your situation and your pet and to find out if this could be a possibility.

 

Shelter Overflow

Some guests who may be ineligible for our shelter, may still be eligible to stay at the Cold Night Out Shelter.  This can also be an option for guests when the Anchor House is at max capacity.  This year the Cold Night Out Shelter plans to be active during January and February.  Registered sex offenders and pets are not eligible to stay with the Cold Night Out Shelter.  Please first call the Anchor House and if we are full or you are ineligible to stay with us, we will share information about options for emergency shelter, including the Cold Night Out Shelter (812-519-3438). Click Here for more information.

 

Other Options

If a guest is not able to stay with Anchor House or the Cold Night Out Shelter, then they can call the Jackson Township Trustees (812-271-1196) or the St. Vincent DePaul Society (812-524-8566).  Remember if someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, they should call 911.

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Daytime Warming Centers

First Baptist Church is open as a warming center from 2 PM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday.  They are located at 505 Community Dr. Seymour, IN 47274. If weather is especially cold, you can call the church office to see if they have opened it earlier in the day: 812-522-1909

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