Milan safe room opens as cold weather shelter

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MILAN, Tenn. — With cold weather on the way, the city of Milan puts a plan in place to keep citizens warm.

“We’ve realized there are people that for a number of reasons are without heat, and we don’t want those people out on the street,” Milan Mayor B.W. Beasley said. “It’s a security thing for our citizens to make sure that are safe.”

On Thursday and Friday, the Milan FEMA safe room doors will be open to residents from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning as a warm place to spend the night.

“For people that need assistance with a place to go for warmth,” Milan Fire Chief Steven Dillard said. “Ones who may not have adequate heating or the heating unit may be out.”

For those trying to stay warm at home, Milan Fire Chief Steven Dillard has a few safety tips.

“If you’re using an alternate heating source is to maintain 36 inches, three feet, around that heater, away from curtains or furniture or anything like that,” Dillard said.

The chief also says to use screens around open flames in fireplaces to keep children safe.

If pipes begin to freeze, Dillard says to use hair dyers — not open flame torches — to thaw your pipes. When using appliances like kerosene heaters to warm the house, Dillard recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors for safety.

“It’s colorless, tasteless and odorless,” Dillard said. “Some of the main signs that you’ll see from that very early on, headache, dizziness and nausea. When you get those symptoms, you need to get out the house.”

Mayor Beasley says the FEMA safe room may open again next week because temperatures are expected to drop again. To check when the Milan safe room will be open during the cold winter months, call the Milan Fire Department at 731-686-3996.