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The Family Center Becomes a 24-Hour Lifeline During Prolonged Winter Cold

Issue #653

January 27, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Wednesday Weather - Partly cloudy w/ high of 38, low of 18 👉 Stay tuned to Weather Down in Mule Town for your local weather updates!

📰 The Family Center Becomes a 24-Hour Lifeline During Prolonged Winter Cold

📰 Icy Roads Lead to Expected Delivery Delays This Week

📰 Power Restoration Update From CPWS

👉 Updates From the City

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

The Family Center Becomes a 24-Hour Lifeline During Prolonged Winter Cold

As temperatures continue to drop after the weekend winter storm, The Family Center has become a critical lifeline for people displaced by the cold in Columbia.

Originally operating only in the evenings, The Family Center shifted to a 24-hour warming shelter as icy conditions made travel difficult and unsafe. Guests who arrived often couldn’t leave due to ice on the facility’s steep driveway, prompting staff to stay on-site around the clock to ensure no one was turned away.

On average, about 22 people per day have been using the shelter, where they can warm up, take a shower, and receive a hot meal.  

As the cold stretched on longer than initially expected, staff members packed bags and stayed overnight for multiple days to keep operations running, maintaining a safe, warm environment as uncertainty remains about how long freezing temperatures will last. With extended cold in the forecast, plans remain fluid — but the commitment to staying open is firm.

The prolonged storm has increased the need for food, toiletries, and basic supplies. While community members have dropped off items when conditions allow, The Family Center is now seeking additional donations and volunteers who can safely travel.

The organization has also been raising funds through Meal Train to help cover food costs during this extended response. At time of publishing, it looks like they’ve surpassed their goal of $2,500. The total is currently at $2,705. With cold weather expected to stick around, it’s safe to say any additional support would still be put to good use.

Those who want to help can donate through the Meal Train for Family Center Warming Station, visit www.FamilyCenter.org, or call (931) 388-3840. Every contribution helps ensure The Family Center can continue caring for neighbors during one of the coldest stretches of the season.

Icy Roads Lead to Expected Delivery Delays This Week

Travel conditions remain dangerous across Tennessee, and shipping delays are expected throughout the week.

Icy roads, especially in Middle and West Tennessee, have slowed travel despite ongoing efforts by TDOT crews to clear major routes. Officials are urging drivers to check road conditions and avoid unnecessary trips as cleanup continues.

Delivery companies are also feeling the impact. The U.S. Postal Service has warned that weather disruptions could delay mail and packages across 30 states, including Tennessee. Major carriers including Amazon, FedEx, and UPS have also signaled possible delays tied to hazardous road conditions and broader network disruptions.

Customers waiting on deliveries this week should expect slower-than-usual arrival times as conditions gradually improve.

Power Restoration Update From CPWS

Update from CPWS posted today…

Storm Restoration Update | 2 P.M. Tuesday

We’re making steady progress! Since 9 a.m., our crews have successfully restored power to 230 customers, a 40% improvement in just a few hours.

Here is the current breakdown of our restoration efforts:

Current Status: 89 active outages affecting 318 customers.

Priority Repairs: We are focusing on 10 specific outages that impact 10 or more customers each (representing 190 of those currently without power).

Largest Outage: Our team is currently on-site at McCains, affecting 48 customers. We anticipate having the majority of this area back online by this evening.

Overcoming Access Challenges

The terrain is proving difficult, but we are pushing through. We are finally gaining access to high-elevation areas — including several communication towers — that were previously unreachable due to road conditions.

A huge shout-out to the City of Columbia for their incredible help in clearing roads and ensuring our crews can reach these remote locations safely.

Stay Safe: Please continue to stay away from downed lines and report any new hazards immediately. We also ask to exercise additional caution if you're driving and see our crews working nearby. 

Thank you for your continued patience! 

Updates From The City

From City of Columbia’s post earlier today…

Temperatures are rising above freezing today. Main roadways are mostly clear, while secondary roads remain treacherous.

First responders are currently handling multiple calls for injuries related to falls. Individuals are urged to use extreme caution when walking on icy surfaces.

Local power providers continue working to restore remaining outages.

Power Outage Information: https://oms.cpws.com

• To report outages: 931-388-4833

• For non-emergency assistance: 931-388-2525

Warming Shelters (Open Through Sunday)

The Family Center
921 Beckett Street, Columbia 
Open 5–7 PM (Dinner and showers available)

West 7th Church of Christ
405 West 7th Street, Columbia
Open 7 PM – 7 AM

United Methodist Church
222 W. 7th Street, Columbia
Open 7 AM – 7 PM

Santa Fe Baptist Church
2652 Santa Fe Pike
Santa Fe TN
Open until weather conditions improve

Columbia City Offices will delay opening until 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 28, 2026 due to inclement weather.

Maury County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Special thanks are extended to all local first responders for working around the clock to ensure the safety and well-being of the community, and to local volunteers for providing continued support during recovery efforts.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, January 29th

Friday, January 30th

Saturday, January 31st

Sunday, February 1st

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, January 27
Songwriters Round - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6–9 PM

Thursday, January 29
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s Spring Hill, 6–9 PM
Christine Parri - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, January 30
James Gregory - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Justen Harden - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Vintage Voltage - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Songwriters Series - The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
The Inlaw Band - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill (Spring Hill), 8–11 PM

Saturday, January 31
Andy Gullahorn - Hardison Mill, 7 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Karli & James - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Winter Series - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Vinyl Radio - The Mulehouse, 8 PM
Nkahootz - The Boondox, 8 PM
South Bound Crows - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill (Spring Hill), 8–11 PM

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