Riverhead Opens Senior Center Warming Site Amid Extreme Cold Advisory

Riverhead opened the Riverhead Senior Center at 60 Shade Tree Lane as a temporary warming site when an extreme cold advisory brought wind chills to 5º–10º F. The advisory, issued by Riverhead Town Police, established operating hours for January 20 and the following day, with the center open until 4 p.m. on January 20 and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 21 to provide shelter from dangerously low wind chills.

The town advisory directed residents to bring pets indoors, to pack emergency kits, and to call 911 in an emergency. For immediate shelter assistance or other urgent local needs, the advisory listed Riverhead Police at 631-727-4500. The use of the senior center as a warming site reflects a short-term municipal response to protect older adults, people with medical vulnerabilities, those without reliable heating, and anyone exposed to prolonged outdoor conditions.

Local warming sites like the Riverhead Senior Center provide a staffed, heated space where residents can avoid prolonged exposure to cold that increases the risk of hypothermia and other cold-related health problems. For seniors and residents who rely on electrically powered medical equipment, losing heat can quickly become a life-threatening situation. The town’s announcement aimed to reduce those risks by offering a central, accessible location during the advisory period.

Beyond immediate shelter, the advisory emphasized basic preparedness steps relevant to all Suffolk County households. Residents are advised to bring pets indoors and to have emergency kits ready should conditions deteriorate or utility outages occur. Riverhead’s coordination of the warming site demonstrates how local public safety agencies and municipal facilities serve as front-line resources during short-term weather emergencies.

For additional preparedness guidance, Riverhead officials point to established resources including FEMA (ready.gov), the National Weather Service (weather.gov), New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (dhses.ny.gov), and the American Red Cross (redcross.org). These organizations provide checklists for emergency kits, tips for keeping households safe during extreme cold, and updates on weather-related hazards.

Residents should check on elderly neighbors and those with mobility or health challenges, bring pets inside, and use the Riverhead Senior Center at 60 Shade Tree Lane if they need a heated, safe space while the advisory was in effect. The town’s temporary measures address immediate risk; longer-term cold snaps will require residents and local agencies to keep working together to protect vulnerable Suffolk County households.