The City of Elk Grove is committed to protecting our most vulnerable residents, including those without homes or with insufficient heating or cooling systems. In addition to our year-round shelter that offers extended stays for up to 35 unhoused adults, the City will open a warming or cooling center under specific conditions to ensure safe and accessible relief from severe weather conditions. The City uses criteria established by the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services to determine when respite center should be opened.

A warming center will be activated when:

• Unusually Cold Weather Persists: If the forecast calls for three days of abnormally low daytime temperatures with nighttime lows of 32°F or colder.
• Unusual Health Risks Arise: If there is an abnormal risk to human or animal mortality due to the cold.
• Severe Weather with Power Outages: In cases where low temperatures (32°F or below) are expected for three days, and extended power outages affect the community.
• National Weather Service models estimate 50% probability or greater of reaching 32 degrees or lower over 3 days.  

During extreme heat, a cooling center will be activated when:

• Excessive Heat Warning Issued by the National Weather Service
• 3 days of temperatures categorized as Major or Extreme on the National Weather Service HeatRisk Index
• Unusual risk for human or animal mortality
• Temperatures combined with long-term power outages

Notification of warming or cooling center openings will be shared through official City channels in collaboration with the City's Homeless Outreach Teams and local non-profit partners.
 
For up-to-date information during cold weather events, follow the City’s social media pages or subscribe to alerts.