SALEM — With frigid below zero temperatures coming, a local hotel is opening its rooms to the homeless while the local health department is telling residents to stay inside and keep pets inside, too.

Both are looking out for everybody’s health and safety in the midst of the expected winter weather crisis.

“Brooke and I, we’re firm believers in giving back,” Brandy Pidgeon said Monday.

She and her husband Brooke own the Stables Inn & Suites at the Timberlanes Complex, along with the Boneshakers restaurant and banquet center.

She announced that they’re offering free hotel rooms for the homeless Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in light of the weather forecast. They just decided to do it and called the Salem News so the public would know. They also planned to post it on social media.

Brooke and Brandy reopened the hotel at the corner of Pershing and Penn in the fall of 2017, not long after they reopened the restaurant and banquet center in 2016, the result of a lot of hard work and renovations. They’re thankful for the support of the community since reopening and this is their way of helping out.

“The community has been so good to us. We’d just like to give back to the community and the homeless in our area,” she said.

They’ve worked with the Salvation Army in Salem in the past when someone has needed a place to stay.

“That’s a great sense of community,” Salem Health Commissioner Lynle Hayes said when told about the offer for the homeless.

According to recent forecasts, the temperature outside Wednesday night could dip to 10 degrees below zero with a possible wind chill value as low as 30 degrees below zero. Thursday won’t be much better.

“With temperatures this cold, you should try to stay inside,” Hayes said.

If it’s necessary to go outside, she advised to stay out for the bare minimum because “frostbite and hypothermia can happen within minutes.”

Limit outside activity, but also check on neighbors and the elderly to make sure they have what they need and bring outside animals inside.

“It’s safer to just stay in,” she said.

Hayes shared some information the health department received in preparation for the cold weather from the National Weather Service, highlighting safety tips to keep in mind. The extreme cold safety tips included minimizing travel when possible, keeping a winter survival kit in vehicles, checking tire pressure, antifreeze levels and heater and defroster operations. Hayes said motorists should heat up their vehicles before getting into them, especially with the elderly or children. Check on pipes and learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.

She said the forecast is calling for high winds so there could be power outages, too. Residents should have a plan in case the power goes out, especially if it’s prolonged and causing a drastic loss of heat in their home. She said residents may need to coordinate a temporary living situation with family or friends not affected by the power outage. Something to also keep in mind is to take care in the use of secondary heat sources that could increase the chance for a carbon monoxide issue.

If it’s necessary to go outside, she said to cover all areas of exposed skin. The tip sheet suggested wearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Wear a hat to prevent a loss of body heat and cover the mouth to protect lungs.

Anyone with questions about preparing for the cold weather can contact the city health department at 330-332-1618 or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe for information on frostbite and hypothermia or www.ready.gov/winter-weather for overall weather tips.

mgreier@salemnews.net