Cold Weather in Cabarrus County: Warming Centers, Emergency Shelter Nights and Space Heater Safety
Cold snaps in Cabarrus County can be dangerous for anyone without reliable heat, and especially for older adults living alone. As of November 12, 2026, we did not find a standing warming center or cold-night shelter schedule announced for this winter by Cabarrus County, Concord or Kannapolis. Here is how emergency shelter worked last winter and how to find out fast when it opens again. If the heating bill itself is the problem, see our guide to help with heating bills in Cabarrus County.
How Emergency Shelter Opened Last Winter
During the January 2026 winter storm, Cabarrus County Emergency Management opened an emergency shelter at the Concord Active Living Center, 331 Corban Avenue SE (formerly the Concord Senior Center), after the county declared a State of Emergency. It opened at 11 p.m. on January 24, took people first come, first served, and closed at 6 p.m. on January 26.
Guests were asked to bring a phone and charger, required medications, minimal belongings, any special-diet food, and small activities for children. Cats and dogs stayed in a separate animal trailer on site; owners brought pet food. Guests had to arrange their own ride. A community-run warming center also operated at 590 N. Church Street in Concord during that storm.
How to Find Out This Winter
Call 704-920-COLD (704-920-2653). It is a recorded line the county updates with shelter and warming center news. Sign up for free text, email or phone alerts at CabCoAlert.org. The county's main line is 704-920-2100, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can also call NC 211 at 2-1-1 any time. Use 911 only for emergencies, and report power outages to your power company, not 911. City of Concord electric customers can report outages at 704-920-5555, option 1.
Space Heater Safety
The U.S. Fire Administration gives four simple rules: set the heater on a solid, flat surface; keep it at least three feet from anything that can burn; check the cord and plug for cracks or damage; and plug it directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.
Checking on Older Neighbors
When temperatures drop, call or knock on the door of older neighbors and anyone living alone. Ask whether their heat is working, whether they have food and medications for a few days, and whether their phone is charged. If food is running low, our food delivery for seniors and veterans brings groceries to the door.
Help them sign up for CabCoAlert and write 704-920-COLD on a card by the phone. Because last winter's shelter required guests to bring themselves, offering a ride can make the difference. If someone seems confused, very cold or unwell, call 911.
Need Food? We Deliver — Free of Charge
Solo Faith Church partners with DoorDash to deliver free groceries directly to families across Concord. No paperwork. No judgment. Just food delivered to your door. Request a free grocery delivery.
Community Support Note: This resource guide is part of Solo Faith Church's community directory. Facts come from Cabarrus County news releases on the January 2026 emergency shelter and winter weather updates, a City of Kannapolis winter storm update, the City of Concord outage reporting page and a U.S. Fire Administration portable heater flyer, read on October 25, 2026 and rechecked on November 12, 2026. No 2026-27 warming center or cold-night shelter schedule had been announced that we could find; shelter sites and rules can change with each storm, so check 704-920-COLD before you go. The photograph is a stock image from the Wix free media library. Solo Faith Church has no financial relationship with any organization named here.
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