Thank you to everyone for working together to care for our community in preparation of potential storms this weekend. City staff have been closely coordinating with partners about solutions for emergency response.

We want to especially thank our shelters, Catholic Charities and Fort Collins Rescue Mission, for extending hours and expanding capacity to provide shelter to as many people as possible. We also deeply appreciate Peak Community and Mennonite Churches for providing additional warming space 6-10pm this weekend. 

The City’s Social Sustainability Department is working with Catholic Charities and Fort Collins Rescue Mission to ensure that everyone seeking shelter will have a safe place to rest in the event of severe weather this weekend. We encourage all people in need of shelter to go to Catholic Charities and Fort Collins Rescue Mission tonight and through Sunday evening where they will be connected with shelter on site or transportation to overflow shelter as needed. Thank you to Serve 6.8 for their assistance with transportation.

While developing short-term solutions to provide additional shelter for people this weekend, staff also met with faith leaders today about employing the Congregational model as a long-term solution for our community. We are optimistic that this model will help to establish ongoing and community-based emergency support next winter season. Hopefully this will be the last severe weather event of this season where these temporary measures need to be used.

City staff just finished an emergency preparedness meeting, and we are committed to working with partners to support our community in the event of storms.