Menominee Tribe Opens Warming Shelters Friday-Saturday as Wind Chills Plummet

Wind chills plunged to as low as -40 on the morning of Friday, Jan. 21, prompting the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin to open multiple warming shelters across the reservation to protect residents during the severe cold snap. With daytime highs remaining below zero on both Friday and Saturday, tribal leaders made shelter space available for those without reliable home heat or safe places to stay.

The Menominee warming shelters operated from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days at five locations: FACE Center in Keshena, Maehnowesekiyah in Middle Village, the Tribal School in Neopit, the Ceremonial Building in Zoar, and the Community Center in South Branch. Those locations provided daytime refuge from the subzero temperatures and hazardous wind chills that created heightened risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

Limited overnight accommodations were offered at Eagle’s Nest in Neopit. Eagle’s Nest provided warm beds, showers and kitchen access for a restricted number of people. Reservations for overnight space required a phone call to (715) 756 2576. Tribal ID was required at check-in. Guests using Eagle’s Nest were required to check in daily by 6 p.m. and depart by 9 a.m., and the tribal-run policy limited the total number of overnight spots.

The Menominee Tribe’s action came as part of a broader regional response to the extreme cold. Other Wisconsin communities, including Neenah, opened warming shelters during the same stretch of dangerous temperatures. The Wisconsin 211 website remains a centralized resource for residents seeking shelter options beyond the reservation boundaries.

For Menominee County residents, the shelters reduced immediate exposure risk for unhoused people, elders, families with heating failures and workers stranded by winter conditions. The fixed shelter hours and limited overnight capacity meant the facilities primarily offered daytime relief and short-term stays rather than long-term housing solutions. The Tribal ID requirement for overnight registration clarified access rules but also shaped who could use Eagle’s Nest on short notice.

Looking ahead, local officials and tribal staff will monitor weather forecasts and take similar steps if another cold snap threatens public safety. Residents who lost heat or who need overnight shelter during extreme cold should contact Eagle’s Nest at (715) 756 2576 to check availability and bring Tribal ID when applicable. For shelter options elsewhere in the region, Wisconsin 211 provides searchable listings and contact information.