(Brooksville, FL) – In response to forecasted cold temperatures, Hernando County Emergency Management, in partnership with the City of Brooksville, will reopen the Warming Center to provide warmth and comfort to those in need.

The Warming Center will operate at the Enrichment Center, located at 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601. The center will open Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., and remain open overnight until 8:00 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2026. Overnight operations will continue each evening, from 8:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m. through 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

• Important Information: The Warming Center will not include meals or cots.
• Pets are not accepted in the Warming Center.
• Hernando County Transit (TheBus) will provide transportation to and from the Warming Center. TheBus will pick up residents at 8:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday from the Walmart located at 7305 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34601, and will return riders to the same location at 8:00 a.m. the following mornings. This service will not be available on Sunday, February 22, 2026. This service will also not be available before 4:47 p.m. on any routes that provide connections to Walmart for transport to the Warming Center by 8:00 p.m., or after 9:00 a.m. for return trips from Walmart to residents’ destinations. Additional transportation information is available at www.hernandocounty.us/living-here/transit-thebus.

Cold Weather Supplies Distribution Sites:

• The following locations are offering cold weather supplies, such as gloves, hand warmers, socks, and blankets:
  • o People Helping People:
    Address: 1396 Kass Cir, Spring Hill, FL 34606
    Phone: (352) 686-4466.
    Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday from 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • o NAMI Hernando
     Address: 4030 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606
    Phone: (352) 684-0004.
    Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday from: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
  • o Hernando Mentorship Empowerment
     Address: 209 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Brooksville, Fl 34601
    Phone: 248-444-8027.
    Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday: 3:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Steps to Prepare for Cold Weather:

• Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures may result in hypothermia, particularly for individualsspending extended periods outdoors. Residents should remain indoors when possible, bring petsinside, and cover or relocate cold-sensitive plants. Pets should not be left outdoors during coldweather.
• Frost and freezing conditions may damage vegetation and plants and may cause exposed pipesto freeze. Residents with pools should consider running pool pumps overnight during freezingtemperatures to help prevent damage.
• Residents are encouraged to monitor local media outlets or the National Weather Service atwww.weather.gov/tbw/ for the most current weather information. The Emergency OperationsCenter is not activated at this time.
• Register for Alert Hernando to receive a call or text when emergency weather notifications areissued for your area. Visit www.alerthernando.org

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