Polk County's new overflow extreme cold shelter

• The new overflow space ensures there's enough room and staff for overnight monitoring.

How it started: A year ago, a blizzard drove many to seek shelter at CISS, just as other extreme temperature centers like libraries closed for the holiday weekend, Dutch Geisinger, deputy director of Polk County Emergency Management, tells Axios.

• Following last year's overflow, Polk County Emergency Management decided to prepare River Place as an emergency back-up and staff it with county personnel and the sheriff's office.

Context: River Place is just a temporary solution during the cold spell and doesn't have beds or resources to help people find more permanent housing.

• Because the center is used during the daytime for services like license renewals and a food pantry, people staying overnight have to leave in the morning, Geisinger says.

What's next: As of Wednesday morning, River Place has yet to open for overflow.

• DART buses will transport people to nearby extreme temperature shelters, which can be found here, for free.