Warming centers available in DeKalb County as subzero temperatures expected to hit area

DeKALB – The cities of DeKalb and Sycamore are providing four warming centers to help residents while temperatures are colder.

The National Weather Service is predicting severely cold temperatures and wind chills through at least the middle of the next week.

Below-zero wind chills are possible at times, with minimum wind chills as cold as 15 to 25 degrees below zero Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The warming centers are open during each facility’s operating hours, which vary and may differ on holidays. The facilities may close during severe weather conditions. Call ahead for updated availability before traveling out into the cold.

The locations include:

• DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., 815-756-3568
• DeKalb Park District, Hopkins Park Community Center, 1403 Sycamore Road, 815-758-6663
• DeKalb Salvation Army Community Center, 830 Grove St., 815-756-4308
• Christ Community Church, 2350 Pride Ave., 815-787-6161

The number of people allowed inside each warming center may be limited by COVID-19 occupancy restrictions and social distancing requirements. Face coverings are required.

To request a well-being check for someone who may be suffering because of the extreme weather, call 815-748-8400.

Landlords must provide heat to residential buildings to maintain a room temperature of at least 68 degrees between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. and at least 62 degrees at other times, per city of DeKalb Municipal Code, Chapter 24 Building Code, Section 602. To report inadequate heat in a residential building, call 815-748-2070 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call 815-739-0745 after hours.

To find the closest warming center, call 815-748-8460 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Sycamore, the warming centers are located at:

• Sycamore Police Department, 535 DeKalb Ave., open 24 hours every day

• Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday