Central Arkansans Struggle to Stay Warm Without Power
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: December 28, 2012
Families across Central Arkansas have been deal the same bad hand as the Schuh family the day after Christmas.
"We're here because we don't have power," Deanna Schuh said between bending the deck of cards between her fingers.
Without electricity at home, they shuffled over to the Bryant warming center at Bishop Park.
"We've always lived where we had a fireplace or something," she said, flicking the cards across the table to waiting hands. "Now, we live in an apartment and there's nothing."
For some, electricity isn't a luxury. It's a lifesaver.
"He sleeps with a CPAP machine so he needs the power," Deanna said, nodding at her husband Ken. "He didn't sleep last night without it, so we were looking for a place with power."
"Our first person here today was here about 2:30 this afternoon," said Parks Director Derek Phillps. "She had an oxygen tank machine,but she had no power to recharge it. She needed a place right then with electricity."
Within these walls folks can recharge both their batteries and bodies. They can fix themselves a meal, take a shower, and find a place to sleep without the fear of freezing.
"It's supposed to get down to the 20s it's going to be a rough night if you don't have power," Phillips said.
While they would all rather be staying in their own apartment, until power returns, the Shuchs and others at the warming center consider themselves winners in a losing game.
Faulkner County
McGee Center - 3800 College, Conway
Garland County
First Church of Nazarene - 3804 Central Ave., Hot Springs
Pulaski County
North Little Rock Community Center - 2700 Willow St., North Little Rock
Compassion Center - 3618 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock
Salvation Army - 1111 W. Markham, Little Rock
Saline County
North Side Church or Christ - 917 N East St., Benton
Centers at Bishop - 6401 Boone Rd., Bryant
"We're here because we don't have power," Deanna Schuh said between bending the deck of cards between her fingers.
Without electricity at home, they shuffled over to the Bryant warming center at Bishop Park.
"We've always lived where we had a fireplace or something," she said, flicking the cards across the table to waiting hands. "Now, we live in an apartment and there's nothing."
For some, electricity isn't a luxury. It's a lifesaver.
"He sleeps with a CPAP machine so he needs the power," Deanna said, nodding at her husband Ken. "He didn't sleep last night without it, so we were looking for a place with power."
"Our first person here today was here about 2:30 this afternoon," said Parks Director Derek Phillps. "She had an oxygen tank machine,but she had no power to recharge it. She needed a place right then with electricity."
Within these walls folks can recharge both their batteries and bodies. They can fix themselves a meal, take a shower, and find a place to sleep without the fear of freezing.
"It's supposed to get down to the 20s it's going to be a rough night if you don't have power," Phillips said.
While they would all rather be staying in their own apartment, until power returns, the Shuchs and others at the warming center consider themselves winners in a losing game.
Several warming centers are open across the area, including the following:
Faulkner County
McGee Center - 3800 College, Conway
Garland County
First Church of Nazarene - 3804 Central Ave., Hot Springs
Pulaski County
North Little Rock Community Center - 2700 Willow St., North Little Rock
Compassion Center - 3618 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock
Salvation Army - 1111 W. Markham, Little Rock
Saline County
North Side Church or Christ - 917 N East St., Benton
Centers at Bishop - 6401 Boone Rd., Bryant
