According to Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer, Alpena Animal Control is helping provide laundry services to linemen by running laundry to the county jail and back to the warming shelter for pickup. This way, linemen can have access to laundry services while working around the clock to get power restored to Northeast Michigan.

Apart from providing laundry services to linemen, the warming shelter at the Merchant’s Building is continuing to offer much needed overnight shelter for community members who are still without power and heat. The shelter has been offering breakfast and lunch to the public, and Osmer noted that the shelter is averaging about 80 dinners every night.

Osmer also said that though linemen haven’t been utilizing the warming shelter for meals, many local restaurants are offering free meals to linemen to fill that gap.

As of Friday, 10 National Guardsmen were at the warming shelter and 20 more were expected to arrive by evening, according to Osmer. He said another 20 National Guardsmen would arrive today.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz National Guard members at the Merchant’s Building are helping provide necessary aid to Alpena residents on Friday who are without power or heat due to the recent ice storm. This warming shelter has been open to the public since Monday, following mass power outages across Northeast Michigan.

Osmer said that the National Guard will help with a variety of tasks in the community. Some of these tasks include keeping the warming shelter organized and running, helping with food distribution, assisting with cleanup in the community, and more.

According to Osmer, the warming shelter will continue to provide necessary resources, such as overnight accommodations and hot meals, to individuals who are still without power across the county.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz National Guard members at the Merchant’s Building are helping provide necessary aid to Alpena residents on Friday who are without power or heat due to the recent ice storm. This warming shelter has been open to the public since Monday, following mass power outages across Northeast Michigan.