JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With cold temperatures heading our way, people are looking to save as much money as possible while trying to stay warm and safe.
A Freeze Warning will be in effect for most Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia counties from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday. The coldest air is forecast to settle in between 2 and 8 a.m., dropping wind chills down into the teens and 20s.
RELATED | The coldest air of the season is almost here. When will the wind chills arrive?
This will be officially the coldest air of the season so far in our area. For that reason, it is important to know how to stay safe and warm while saving money.
JEA tips on saving money
With the government shutdown still dragging on, JEA is stepping up to help customers keep the lights on. For that reason, JEA is waiving late fees and making it easier to set up payment plans.
You can request help at jea.com/assistance or by calling 904-665-6000/
For now, no late fees will be charged until further notice.
- Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower at night and when you’re not home, since turning it up too high can increase your bill.
- If you use a space heater, only turn it on when you’re in the room
- To keep your home warm, seal any drafts with weather-stripping or rolled-up towels
You can also track your daily energy use and find more ways to save using the JEA app.
JFRD on safety tips
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department also offered safety tips to prepare for the drastic weather shift.
Use caution with space heaters:
- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn
- Plug heaters directly into outlets. Never use extension cords or power strips
- Turn off heaters when leaving a room or going to sleep
- Never leave space heaters unattended
Practice fireplace safety:
- Have chimneys inspected and cleaned annually
- Don’t overload fireplaces with wood
- Use screens or glass doors to prevent sparks from escaping
- Never leave fires unattended
- Ensure fires are fully extinguished before going to bed
Critical safety reminders:
- Never use ovens or appliances not designed as heating devices to warm your home
- Ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every floor and outside each bedroom
- Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home
- Never use outdoor appliances like grills or generators indoors
- Create and practice a fire escape plan with all household members
JFRD said it is also taking steps to protect its equipment.
“Our firefighters are taking the necessary steps to ensure our equipment remains operational throughout this cold snap,” Fire Chief Percy Golden II said. “We’re also asking the Jacksonville community to take this weather transition seriously. The combination of elevated fire danger and freezing temperatures requires residents to be extra vigilant about home heating safety.”
Warming centers
Duval County
The City Rescue Mission is extending its overnight shelter services and Flagler County is opening a cold shelter.
On Monday and Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., those in need can check in at CRM’s New Life Campus at 234 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205.
“We will not turn anyone away,” Paul Stasi, LCSW, Executive Director of City Rescue Mission, said. “We want to ensure that everyone without a home has a warm shelter and a hot meal during this cold weather. Safety and care are our top priorities.”
Flagler County
The Sheltering Tree in Flagler County is opening on Monday at the Rock Transformation Center. The county will provide bus transportation along two routes, following the schedules below:
East side of the county
- Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.
- McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.
- Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.
- Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.
West side of the county
- Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.
- Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 4:30 p.m.
- Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)
The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State Street. The cold-weather shelter will open at 5 p.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following day.
News4JAX has reached out to officials across other Northeast Florida counties to ask if they will be opening warming centers, we will update this story as we learn more.