Hernando County Extends Brooksville Warming Center Nightly Operations Through Feb. 4

Hernando County Emergency Management, in partnership with the City of Brooksville, has extended nightly operations of a Warming Center at the Enrichment Center, 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville, through Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. The center opened nightly on Monday, January 26, 2026, and will continue to be available each evening from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

The extension is a targeted response to prolonged cold weather conditions and is intended to provide a safe, warm place for residents who need overnight shelter. The county has been clear about limitations: “The Warming Center will not include meals or cots.” In addition, “Pets are not accepted in the Warming Center.” Residents are advised that the county has not specified whether service animals are an exception nor detailed intake procedures or capacity limits for the center.

County guidance accompanying the announcement stresses basic cold-weather precautions. Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures may result in hypothermia, so officials urge residents to remain indoors when possible, bring pets inside, and cover or relocate cold-sensitive plants. For those who need help getting to the Enrichment Center, Hernando County directs residents to TheBus’s website for transportation details.

A small network of community partners is distributing free cold-weather supplies such as gloves, hand warmers, socks and blankets. Distribution sites and hours are listed below for residents seeking items before nighttime conditions worsen. People Helping People is at 1396 Kass Circle, Spring Hill; phone (352) 686-4466; hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. NAMI Hernando is at 4030 Commercial Way, Spring Hill; phone (352) 684-0004; hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hernando Mentorship Empowerment is at 209 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601; phone 248-444-8027; hours Monday-Thursday 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For general county information or further questions, residents may call the Hernando County Government main line at (352) 754-4000. The county also encourages sign-up for eNewsletters and checking official channels for updates through the extension period.

What this means for Hernando County residents is practical and immediate: there is a designated overnight refuge through the morning of Feb. 4, but travelers should plan ahead because the center does not provide meals, cots or pet accommodations. Residents who need supplies or transportation should use the listed distribution sites and consult TheBus for transit details, and anyone with specific needs or questions should contact the county main line to confirm arrangements before heading out.