Union County officials, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will close the emergency shelter at Monroe Middle School, effective Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m.

"We're fortunate that this winter storm did not result in the widespread power loss that many anticipated for our area," said Sheila Crunkleton, Shelter Manager with the American Red Cross. "As weather conditions can change at any time, our priority is to be prepared so we are ready to help our community during a time of need."

Union County opened the emergency shelter on Saturday, Jan. 24, in partnership with the American Red Cross due to anticipated widespread power outages. Because the winter storm has resulted in minimal power loss in the Union County area, County staff and the American Red Cross are now providing resources to the three residents at the shelter, as well as offering to provide transportation to the Community Shelter of Union County, which operates year-round.

The emergency shelter will remain open overnight through the evening of Monday, Jan. 26, to continue receiving residents who need a place to go during the winter storm.

Union County maintains a directory of resources on our website to help individuals and families in need, including local, state, and federal programs, as well as services from private and non-profit organizations. Resources range from ongoing support programs to short-term, incident-specific assistance. Visit the UC Cares page to view this directory.

For ongoing updates about Winter Storm Fern, visit unioncountync.gov/winterstorm and follow Union County on social media.