Lakeville and Middleboro officials are making plans to support residents in case of power outages in the severe cold expected Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4.

In Middleboro, outages are highly unlikely but Middleboro Gas and Electric advises residents to be prepared, according to  Holly Begley, executive director of the Middleboro Council on Aging, in coordination with Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson, who oversees town emergency planning.

The Middleboro Council on Aging, 538 Plymouth St., is on standby to serve as a warming shelter, Begley said. If a warming shelter needs to be opened, residents would be notified through a reverse 911 call from Middleboro Police and/or the local sheriff’s office. 

The technology exists, Begley said, to notify residents strictly in an affected area and provide them with information.

In Lakeville, a warming center is available at the Lakeville Council on Aging starting Friday, Feb. 3 to accommodate residents without power or heat, officials have announced.

The Council on Aging, located at 1 Dear Crossing next to Ted Williams Camp/Loon Pond Lodge, will be opened by request if there are residents in need of shelter from the cold. The facility will be opened for this purpose only if there are requests for assistance.

 Assistance can be requested by calling (508) 947-4121. Lakeville firefighters, along with Council on Aging leadership, will then make the facility available.

Visitors will be requested to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.

 Lakeville emergency officials are requesting that Lakeville residents be good neighbors. Check on family and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, have medical conditions or otherwise need additional assistance. Make sure they have power and heat and alert them to the warming center if they do not, officials said.

For warming center assistance, call (508) 947-4121. In an emergency situation, call 911.

The National Weather Service has predicted “dangerously cold wind chills and strong winds’’ through 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.

Wind chills could drop to between 25 to 35 degrees below zero, with northwest wind gusts between 35 and 55 miles per hour. The lowest wind chills are expected Friday night into mid-morning Saturday.

Winds this strong could lead to isolated power outages, the weather service reports. 

The public is urged to avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves, the weather service advised.

But have heart: By Sunday, temperatures are expected to climb significantly and reach the 40s.